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AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG, OAKLAND, Calif., December 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Cascale announces the formation of its U.S. Policy Member Expert Team (MET), an advisory group of industry leaders and experts drawn from its membership community. Designed to reflect the voices of Cascale’s diverse membership, the MET is tasked with defining Cascale’s U.S. policy priorities and guiding the organization’s regional advocacy strategy. As the nation transitions into a new legislative cycle following the presidential election, the U.S. Policy MET will play a crucial role in shaping Cascale’s approach to addressing key challenges and opportunities for the textiles, apparel, and wider consumer goods sector.

“The United States has the world’s largest fashion market, with revenue exceeding $350 billion,” said Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka, director of sustainability, Komar Brands “The U.S. Policy MET, initiated by the fashion industry stakeholders, is critical to balancing the pressing need for sustainable development in the fashion industry with consistent growth. It ensures that products and services that enhance climate resilience, equitable partnerships, better livelihoods, and nature-positive impacts can move forward effectively without compromising environmental, social, and governance safeguards under strong U.S. policies that will impact the entire world.”

The U.S. Policy MET includes representatives from leading brands, retailers, manufacturers, and affiliates, reflecting Cascale’s commitment to member-focused and member-led advocacy. Members include representatives from American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Edward Garment, Everlane, GG International Manufacturing Co. Ltd, H&M, Komar Brands, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Sustainable Fashion Academy, VF Corporation, and WRAP.

“It’s a great honor to join the U.S. Policy MET as a manufacturer,” said Shein Han, director, compliance/sustainability from GG International Manufacturing Co. Ltd. “In Cascale, the ‘CA’ stands for collective action, and ‘scale’ references scaled ambitions. This MET embodies these principles, bringing together diverse perspectives to develop strategy and iron out the details during this pivotal legislative cycle. By amplifying the voice of manufacturers through a new member engagement structure and initiatives like this, Cascale strengthens its commitment to collective action. Together with all members participating in this MET, I’m excited to explore strategies, refine the details, and work toward achieving what we set out to do. Let’s capitalize on this momentum!”

The MET is led by Cascale’s Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, senior director of policy and public affairs, and Gabriele Ballero, public affairs manager, who will focus on harnessing member insights to shape Cascale’s U.S. Public Affairs Strategy. While the MET’s focus will be on delivering actionable insights and recommendations to strengthen Cascale’s influence in the U.S., it will not engage in active lobbying.

“This initiative demonstrates the strength of member collaboration in shaping Cascale’s advocacy efforts,” said von Reitzenstein. “The U.S. Policy MET reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring that our policy positions are firmly rooted in the insights, priorities, and shared expertise of our members. At this pivotal moment, their collective knowledge will enable us to advocate for policies that not only support industry growth but also drive meaningful innovation and sustainability. Together, we are building a unified and forward-thinking voice to address today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.”

The establishment of the U.S. Policy MET builds on Cascale’s commitment to region-specific advocacy. To date, Cascale’s public affairs efforts have primarily focused on EU policy, including its impactful collaboration with the Policy Hub to address critical issues within the EU. With the launch of the U.S. Policy MET, Cascale is taking a step forward in expanding its policy and public affairs focus to other regions. In the release of the 2024 Policy Priorities in April 2024, Cascale outlined plans for collaborative efforts with its global Public Affairs Strategic Council to address regional challenges in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific. This work will continue in 2025 with the formation of a Policy MET for the Asia-Pacific region, reinforcing its dedication to global, member-driven advocacy.

The primary objectives of the U.S. Policy MET are to gather member expertise, agree on the most pressing policy priorities, and assess whether to focus advocacy efforts at the federal or state level—or both. Policy priorities paper(s) may also feed into the work of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), further aligning Cascale’s strategies with broader industry initiatives. By integrating member expertise, the MET will strengthen Cascale’s voice on critical legislative and regulatory matters, ensuring the organization remains a leading advocate during this transformative political period.

To stay informed about the progress of the U.S. Policy MET and future initiatives, stakeholders are encouraged to subscribe to Cascale newsletter(s).

 

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

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KeyBank and the Buffalo Sabres have enjoyed a longtime business and community partnership. Key is the official bank of the NHL team and the Sabres play their home games at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.

Now, Key is helping Sabres Captain and Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin launch his Rasmus Dahlin Foundation with a $26,000 donation, a nod to the number Dahlin wears on the ice – 26.

“KeyBank is excited to partner with Rasmus Dahlin as he launches his foundation to improve and make a difference in the lives of children with various needs in Western New York,” said Michael McMahon, KeyBank Buffalo market president. “Our $26,000 donation is a symbol of our belief in his work and the excitement we share about the good the Rasmus Dahlin Foundation will do in our community. Go Sabres!”

The Rasmus Dahlin Foundation was founded in October with a mission to improve the lives of children with various needs around the Buffalo community. The foundation supports initiatives that enhance the quality of children’s lives, focusing on health, wellness, and providing resources to underserved communities.

Key’s support is helping launch a new “Text to Donate” program that launched on December 3rd. The program gives fans the opportunity to donate to the Rasmus Dahlin Foundation by simply texting “Dahlin” to 86225. For every $10 donated, fans will be entered with a chance to win a meet and greet with Dahlin at a Sabres game at the end of the season.

“I’m so grateful for KeyBank and their generous contribution to my foundation,” Dahlin said. “KeyBank’s commitment and continued support throughout the rest of the season shows how important Western New York is to them and I know that, together, we can help improve the lives of children in our community.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

KeyBank and the Buffalo Sabres have enjoyed a longtime business and community partnership. Key is the official bank of the NHL team and the Sabres play their home games at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.

Now, Key is helping Sabres Captain and Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin launch his Rasmus Dahlin Foundation with a $26,000 donation, a nod to the number Dahlin wears on the ice – 26.

“KeyBank is excited to partner with Rasmus Dahlin as he launches his foundation to improve and make a difference in the lives of children with various needs in Western New York,” said Michael McMahon, KeyBank Buffalo market president. “Our $26,000 donation is a symbol of our belief in his work and the excitement we share about the good the Rasmus Dahlin Foundation will do in our community. Go Sabres!”

The Rasmus Dahlin Foundation was founded in October with a mission to improve the lives of children with various needs around the Buffalo community. The foundation supports initiatives that enhance the quality of children’s lives, focusing on health, wellness, and providing resources to underserved communities.

Key’s support is helping launch a new “Text to Donate” program that launched on December 3rd. The program gives fans the opportunity to donate to the Rasmus Dahlin Foundation by simply texting “Dahlin” to 86225. For every $10 donated, fans will be entered with a chance to win a meet and greet with Dahlin at a Sabres game at the end of the season.

“I’m so grateful for KeyBank and their generous contribution to my foundation,” Dahlin said. “KeyBank’s commitment and continued support throughout the rest of the season shows how important Western New York is to them and I know that, together, we can help improve the lives of children in our community.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) recently announced over $7 million in funding for 12 climate change adaptation projects in British Columbia and across Canada. This funding is part of a broader $39.5 million investment under the Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) and Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program. Among these initiatives is the Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project, a vital effort to safeguard one of Canada’s busiest trade hubs from mounting climate risks.

Backed by stakeholders like DP World, which provided a letter of support for the initiative, the project is a key step in future-proofing Canada’s infrastructure. As extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related challenges grow more frequent, the need for proactive adaptation has never been clearer.

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project received $1.43 million in funding from NRCan, with a total project value of $2.82 million. Over the next three years, the initiative will develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate climate risks to port infrastructure, operations, and surrounding communities. By addressing environmental threats as well as social and economic impacts, the plan will identify priority actions to ensure the port’s long-term sustainability.

Jennifer Natland, Vice President of Properties and Environment at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, noted: “In recent years, climate-related impacts have significantly disrupted supply chains. With this funding to develop a climate adaptation plan for the Port of Vancouver, we will work collaboratively with First Nations and stakeholders to identify key climate risks and priority actions needed to enhance port infrastructure and supply chain resiliency. This will help strengthen our position to facilitate Canada’s trade reliably, now and into the future.”

DP World’s Commitment to Sustainability

DP World’s support for the Port of Vancouver project reflects the company’s broader commitment to sustainability. As one of the world’s leading logistics companies, DP World recognizes the need to adapt global trade systems to the realities of a changing climate. By endorsing initiatives like this one, the company demonstrates its role in fostering resilience across supply chains and protecting critical infrastructure.

Ports are vital economic hubs, and disruptions caused by climate-related impacts can ripple across industries, affecting food security, energy supplies, and more. By prioritizing adaptation at the Port of Vancouver, Canada is not only protecting a key trade hub but also setting an example for climate resilience in the logistics sector.

The High Stakes of Climate Adaptation

Canada is already experiencing the consequences of climate change, from more frequent wildfires and floods to rising sea levels and thawing permafrost in northern regions. NRCan highlights that proactive adaptation measures are critical to limiting economic losses, protecting infrastructure, and safeguarding quality of life. For every dollar spent on adaptation, up to $15 can be saved in future costs associated with disaster recovery, higher insurance premiums, and other expenses.

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project is part of a broader effort to align with Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, released in 2023. This strategy emphasizes a whole-of-society approach to climate resilience, bringing together government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities to address the challenges ahead.

Looking Ahead

With work on the Port of Vancouver project slated to continue through 2027, this initiative will serve as a blueprint for how ports and other critical infrastructure can adapt to a warming world. The lessons learned will not only benefit Canada but also provide insights for global adaptation efforts.

Adaptation isn’t just a response to climate change—it’s an investment in a safer, more sustainable future. And with partners like DP World stepping up, Canada is proving that resilience can be built one project at a time.

For more information about this project and Canada’s broader climate initiatives, visit Natural Resources Canada’s official announcement.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) recently announced over $7 million in funding for 12 climate change adaptation projects in British Columbia and across Canada. This funding is part of a broader $39.5 million investment under the Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) and Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program. Among these initiatives is the Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project, a vital effort to safeguard one of Canada’s busiest trade hubs from mounting climate risks.

Backed by stakeholders like DP World, which provided a letter of support for the initiative, the project is a key step in future-proofing Canada’s infrastructure. As extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related challenges grow more frequent, the need for proactive adaptation has never been clearer.

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project received $1.43 million in funding from NRCan, with a total project value of $2.82 million. Over the next three years, the initiative will develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate climate risks to port infrastructure, operations, and surrounding communities. By addressing environmental threats as well as social and economic impacts, the plan will identify priority actions to ensure the port’s long-term sustainability.

Jennifer Natland, Vice President of Properties and Environment at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, noted: “In recent years, climate-related impacts have significantly disrupted supply chains. With this funding to develop a climate adaptation plan for the Port of Vancouver, we will work collaboratively with First Nations and stakeholders to identify key climate risks and priority actions needed to enhance port infrastructure and supply chain resiliency. This will help strengthen our position to facilitate Canada’s trade reliably, now and into the future.”

DP World’s Commitment to Sustainability

DP World’s support for the Port of Vancouver project reflects the company’s broader commitment to sustainability. As one of the world’s leading logistics companies, DP World recognizes the need to adapt global trade systems to the realities of a changing climate. By endorsing initiatives like this one, the company demonstrates its role in fostering resilience across supply chains and protecting critical infrastructure.

Ports are vital economic hubs, and disruptions caused by climate-related impacts can ripple across industries, affecting food security, energy supplies, and more. By prioritizing adaptation at the Port of Vancouver, Canada is not only protecting a key trade hub but also setting an example for climate resilience in the logistics sector.

The High Stakes of Climate Adaptation

Canada is already experiencing the consequences of climate change, from more frequent wildfires and floods to rising sea levels and thawing permafrost in northern regions. NRCan highlights that proactive adaptation measures are critical to limiting economic losses, protecting infrastructure, and safeguarding quality of life. For every dollar spent on adaptation, up to $15 can be saved in future costs associated with disaster recovery, higher insurance premiums, and other expenses.

The Port of Vancouver Climate Adaptation Planning Project is part of a broader effort to align with Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, released in 2023. This strategy emphasizes a whole-of-society approach to climate resilience, bringing together government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities to address the challenges ahead.

Looking Ahead

With work on the Port of Vancouver project slated to continue through 2027, this initiative will serve as a blueprint for how ports and other critical infrastructure can adapt to a warming world. The lessons learned will not only benefit Canada but also provide insights for global adaptation efforts.

Adaptation isn’t just a response to climate change—it’s an investment in a safer, more sustainable future. And with partners like DP World stepping up, Canada is proving that resilience can be built one project at a time.

For more information about this project and Canada’s broader climate initiatives, visit Natural Resources Canada’s official announcement.

Earlier this year, we announced a new partnership between Scotts and Every Kid Sports, with the goal of providing expanded access to natural green spaces. While the partnership is still in its early stages, we’re sharing the meaningful impact the partnership is already making in the Phoenix, Columbus and Philadelphia communities.

What it means to families

“This is my daughter’s first year of cheerleading for football and she loves it. If it was not for this program, I don’t know how I would have made my little girl’s dreams come true. She is excited to try a new sport and dreams of being a doctor someday.” – Tamara, mom

“Both Marc’s father and I were laid off in April of last year. This amazing program has given the opportunity to receive a grant. I know my son is grateful and keeping him out of the streets and focused on something he loves that helps him grow is more than I can dream. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!” – Jessica, mom

“My 5-year-old has watched football since he was 3-years-old and always wanted to play. Every Kid Sports made sure of that this year by paying half of his registration fee! We are forever grateful! He is excited to have fun and further his athletic ability and skills!” – Azj, mom

Fall 2024, by the numbers

In total, 408 kids from income-restricted families got the opportunity to play grass sports in the Phoenix, Columbus and Philadelphia areas. Sports supported include football, cheer, soccer, baseball, softball, track & field and flag football. We look forward to connecting more kids to playing sports when the spring 2025 season gets underway.

This partnership exemplifies what it means to GroMoreGood in our communities. The teamwork between Every Kid Sports and Scotts is off to a great start by getting more kids outside and playing on natural green spaces.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.6 billion in sales, the Company is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting, and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com. 

View original content here.

In the coming decades, humanity will achieve feats that would have seemed like magic to our grandparents. The rapid acceleration of progress, fueled by artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies, is enabling us to solve problems once thought impossible. Some leaders are even calling this new era the intelligent age.

As our capabilities grow, businesses are embracing AI and other technologies strategically. SAP is leading the way, offering a smarter approach to business transformation services, combining cutting-edge tools with human expertise to help organizations unlock the full potential of these advancements.

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In this new era, cloud technologies, AI, and human intelligence are converging, resulting in remarkable advancements in areas like demand forecasting, supply chain resilience, and process automation. As a result, businesses are increasingly shifting their focus to high-value tasks and real-time collaboration, allowing them to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation.

While the opportunities are immense, the benefits are not guaranteed. The winners in this new era will be those organizations that can transform their operations digitally in increasingly more intelligent ways to set themselves up for success. For example, getting the most from business AI requires first moving your systems to a cloud ERP with SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

Winning in the age of intelligence requires a newer and more intelligent approach to business transformation and the stakes could not be higher.

Combining the Power of Human Expertise with Technology

While the potential of AI-driven cloud systems is vast, some companies still struggle to fully leverage them. Many digital transformations fail to meet their objectives. Common pitfalls include a lack of technical expertise and employee engagement, inadequate management support, poor cross-functional collaboration, and a lack of accountability. Furthermore, sustaining a transformation’s impact typically requires a major reset in mindsets and behaviors.

Often the most difficult part of transforming businesses isn’t determining what to do, but rather how to do it. To address these challenges, SAP is building on a time-tested approach, combining cutting-edge tools with the power of human judgment, and taking it to the next level.

At the heart of this strategy is RISE with SAP, a game-changing initiative designed to help businesses continuously transform. To date, 7,000 companies – representing 32% of the global economy – have embraced RISE with SAP. These companies are already experiencing the benefits, including two percent lower operating costs and three percent lower inventory.

The critical “human” component of the RISE methodology are the enterprise architects, transformation experts who guide businesses through the intricacies of their digital transformation, ensuring they maximize the value of SAP tools and services.

Enterprise architects not only help customers utilize the RISE with SAP Methodology, but also harmonize all elements of the transformation, guiding customers to the modular cloud suite. This ensures a cohesive, effective process whereby the enterprise architect becomes a trusted advisor for the customer. By leveraging SAP’s integrated toolchain — across SAP Signavio, SAP LeanIX, SAP Cloud ALM, SAP Business Technology Platform, and WalkMe — enterprise architects help SAP customers transform holistically through their processes, data, systems, and their people, supporting their long-term success.

SAP has already seen a strong internal response to this approach, seasoned individuals are lining up for the role. Our recruitment and tailored enablement efforts are in full swing, with hundreds of cohorts currently going through training. We are also fine-tuning our enterprise architect operational and commercial model to simplify how we engage with customers and the early customer response has been very positive.

Shaping the Future of Business Transformations

Our early customer successes show the power and the potential of SAP’s intelligent transformation approach. By combining human expertise with advanced AI and cloud technologies, SAP is setting a new standard for what is possible through business transformations. As we look to the future, this integrated approach will continue to enable businesses to unlock new value and drive sustainable success.

At SAP, our vision is to redefine the way businesses transform, setting a benchmark for intelligent and integrated business transformations that drive real, measurable results. And for those organizations that adopt it, the possibilities in this new age are limitless.

Thomas Saueressig is a member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, leading Customer Services & Delivery. 
Thomas Pfiester is executive vice president and head of Global Customer Engagement & Services at SAP.

In October, Tapestry UK celebrated UK Black History Month with panel discussions, celebrations, and events for associates. Internally, a panel featuring inspiring changemakers who have paved paths in Fashion, Beauty, Media, and Medicine was hosted. Participants include Jamelia Donaldson, Bianca Saunders, Dr. Joan Langley, and Selma Nicholls who shared their experiences around self-expression, inclusion, and mental health. The panel delved into topics such as overcoming industry barriers and strategies for fostering a more inclusive environment. Each speaker brought unique perspectives from their respective fields, making it a truly enriching experience for all attendees.

Externally, Tapestry partnered with the UK Black Business Show and proudly sponsored the Black Fashion Talks. The discussion, “Finding Your Career Path in the Fashion Industry,” was moderated by the dynamic Jay-Ann Lopez, a visionary leader in the gaming industry and founder of Black Girl Gamers, who has previously partnered with Coach. The UK Black Business Show, founded in 2017, highlights the achievements and contributions of Black businesses to the economy and provides invaluable insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and business from some of the UK’s leading Black professionals. Tapestry is honored to partner with this organization and looks forward to what’s next.

Tapestry also partnered with Bola Sol, host of The Bola Sol Show, Financial Advisor, and Author. Her mission to build a community where women are equipped and encouraged to engage in financial conversations makes her a powerful advocate for financial empowerment. Tapestry had the opportunity to style Sol in pieces from the kate spade new york and Stuart Weitzman collections.

UK Black History Month concluded with catering from 2NigerianBoys. The jollof was delicious and the vibes were immaculate.

Learn more about Tapestry’s people and culture here.

DAVOS, Switzerland, HAMBURG, Germany, December 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Today, the names of the Top 20 Chief Sustainability Officers of Europe that are nominated for the CSO Awards 25 were revealed by Futur/io Institute. The members of the Grand Jury that will select the winners of the CSO Awards are also released.

The final winners will be announced during the World Economic Forum Week at the Futur/io CSO Awards Gala Ceremony on 20 January, in Davos, Switzerland.

The 20 CSO Awards Nominees are, in alphabetical order:

Anna Celsing Klingberg – Alfa LavalChristoph Nabholz – Swiss ReClaire Lund – GskCléa Martinet – Renault GroupConstance Chalchat – BNP Paribas CibElena Valderrábano – TelefónicaIngrid De Ryck – Ab InbevKarin Reiter – The Adecco GroupKatharina Stenholm – DSM-FirmenichKatie McGinty – Johnson ControlsLena Hök – SkanskaLinda Freiner – Zurich InsuranceMárcia Balisciano – RelxMelanie Kubin-Hardewig – Deutsche TelekomNicolas Mounard – Barry Callebaut GroupNoémie Bauer – Pernod RicardPascal Brun – ZalandoPetra Wicklandt – Merck GruppeRajita D’Souza – STMicroelectronicsSaskia Günther – Swisscom

The Grand Jury, who will choose the three winners among the 20 nominees, showcases a diversity of influential and inspiring sustainability voices:

Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome; Author & Chair of Earth4AllJohn Elkington, Founder & Chief Pollinator at Volans, known as “the Godfather of Sustainability”Claudia Malley, President and Managing Director of Partnerships at Economist ImpactLivio Scalvini, co-founder and executive director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College LondonHelle Bank Jorgensen, CEO and founder of Competent BoardsJosé Manuel Gomes, Business Development Director at Medialivre, PortugalChris Luebkeman, Head of the Strategic Foresight Hub at ETH Zürich and founder of [y]our2040Isabelle Grosmaître, Author and Founder and CEO at Goodness & Co.Harald Neidhardt, CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute, as the Chair of the Grand Jury

Now in its second edition, the CSO Awards Europe is an initiative of the Futur/io Institute, a pioneering organisation dedicated to nurturing and inspiring leadership in sustainable innovation and building the most impactful network of CSOs globally. The North American edition of the CSO Awards had its first edition during the New York Climate Week 2024.

“With the CSO Awards, we want to create a tradition of celebrating the most prominent Chief Sustainability Officers of the world, highlighting the importance of championing change within corporations. That’s a tough challenge, but key to building desirable futures and a sustainable world,” says Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute.

“The purpose of having a Jury in our CSO Awards is to integrate the human factor into the evaluation criteria for our CSO Awards, helping to identify and promote CSOs who are not only effective sustainability leaders, but also empathetic, innovative, and capable of fostering positive change within their organisations and beyond.” added Harald Neidhardt.

The Top 20 names have been drawn from the Top100 CSOs of Europe list, compiled by Futur/io using an extensive database including all the major European companies. The shortlist was defined using a four-quadrant model criteria, developed by Futur/io and scientific partner the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School, and supported by knowledge partners Denominator, specialized in human-centric data, Rainforest Partnership, focused on biodiversity and ClimateGPT by Erasmus.ai adding a balanced public sentiment on the Top 100 CSOs.

The four quadrant model takes into consideration the maturity of corporate behaviours, regulatory performance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) criteria, environmental and human impact and also a self-assessment survey.

Now, the members of the Grand Jury will add the human factor to the selection process, using their expertise to choose the final winners. Their names will be announced at a gala ceremony on 20 January 2025 in the iconic Schatzalp Hotel in Davos, Switzerland, during the week of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The CSO Awards Europe is supported by premium partner IntegrityNext.

CSO Awards Europe Grand Jury

Sandrine Dixson-Declève 

Co-President of the Club of Rome and Earth4All initiator. She chairs the European Commission’s Expert Group on Economic and Societal Impact of Research & Innovation (ESIR), and is involved in climate missions and advisory boards for organisations like BMW, UCB Climate KIC, and Imperial College London.

A TED global speaker and author, Sandrine’s recent publications like Earth4All aim to guide humanity towards a sustainable future. She was recognised most recently by Reuters as one of 25 global female trailblazers and by GreenBiz as one of the 30 most influential women across the globe driving change in the low-carbon economy and promoting green business.

John Elkington

Founder of Volans and chief pollinator. A true pioneer and foundational figure in the global sustainability movement, John brings over 50 years of experience as a strategic advisor to businesses across the world. 

Known as the creator of the “Triple Bottom Line” concept—People, Planet, and Profit—John’s visionary approach has become a fundamental part of business strategy worldwide. He has been at the forefront of movements such as the Global Reporting Initiative, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and B Lab UK, and continues to guide sustainability conversations globally. 

John has addressed over 1,000 conferences around the world and was a faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008. He is the author or co-author of 21 books including the best-selling Green Consumer Guide and the recently published “Tickling Sharks”.

Claudia Malley

President and Managing Director of Economist Impact, leading the global partnership business rooted in designing transformational solutions combining the rigour of a think tank with the creativity of a media brand to drive meaningful impact for organisations and the World.

A skilled executive with over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of purpose and media, Claudia has led corporate partnership business at global brands, including Disney, National Geographic and Runner’s World, driving both growth and impact by transforming the business model with new enterprise-wide partnership paradigms, award-winning brand storytelling, and purpose-based digital community platforms.

She is known as a valued partner across a range of Fortune 500 companies, creating ‘what’s next’ and helping to navigate critical global issues using her purpose-driven brand expertise, creative energy, and solution-based approach.

Livio Scalvini 

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London and leads the Sustainable Development Strategy of Imperial College Business School. 

With over 30 years of international experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, and venture capital, Livio’s expertise spans diverse sectors including finance, sustainability, and education. His extensive background includes serving in C-level roles at financial institutions, advising start-ups, and co-founding the GOLDEN for Impact Foundation.

He has published books and articles on entrepreneurship, sustainability, business strategy, strategic planning, and risk management. He served as an advisor and investor in a wide range of start-ups and NGOs across Europe and Africa. Livio holds a Degree in Economics & Business Administration, MSc in Macroeconomics, and Executive Education in Exponential Technologies at Singularity University.

Helle Bank Jorgensen

CEO and founder of Competent Boards, the world’s first globally accessible board training program, Helle is a leading global expert on governance and sustainable business practices, with a 30-year record of turning environmental, social, and governance risks into innovative and profitable business opportunities. 

Helle’s Amazon bestseller, Stewards of the Future: A Guide for Competent Boards, was published in 2022. She is a regular contributor to FTs Agenda and interviewed by many leading publications.

A business lawyer and certified public accountant by training, Helle is an internationally recognized voice on governance, sustainability, climate, and nature and serves at Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence’s Sustainability & ESG Insights Council; World Economic Forum (WEF) Expert Network for Corporate Governance, Leadership, and Emerging Multinationals; and as co-chair, global expert panel, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) established by HM King Charles III, among other roles.

Board members and executives in over 55 countries – many from Fortune 500 companies – have achieved certification from Competent Boards, and have gone on to help their companies mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities presented by the ever-evolving governance landscape.

In addition to Competent Boards, Helle has a few other brainchildren, including the world’s first green account, the first integrated report, the first holistic supply chain program and many innovative business solutions, and latest The Future Boardroom.

José Manuel Gomes 

Business Development Director at Medialivre, one of the main media conglomerates in Portugal. He leads the commercial area and develops growth and innovation strategies for the company.

He started his professional career in 1998 with the launch of Jornal de Negócios. José Manuel led the launch of Negocios.pt, initially being responsible for the editorial area and later becoming the general manager. With the acquisition of the newspaper by Cofina, he became the digital commercial director of the group, where he continued to expand his skills in management and business development.

In 2014, José Manuel was promoted to Deputy General Commercial Director of the entire commercial area of Cofina Media. In this position, he was responsible for the group’s 360º offering, which includes advertising on TV, newspapers and magazines, digital, Branded Content, Events, and Activations.

In addition to his corporate career, José Manuel has also dedicated himself to academia, teaching at Porto Business School, Universidade Europeia, and Universidade Católica Portuguesa. His academic background includes a degree in Management from ISG, a Postgraduate degree in E-Business from ISEG, an Executive MBA from ISCTE, the AMP Advanced Management Program from Universidade Católica and Kellogg School of Management (Chicago), and the Strategic Leadership Program from ISEG and Columbia University (New York).

Chris Luebkeman 

Head of the Strategic Foresight Hub within the Office of the President at ETH Zurich, and founder of [y]our2040 community which is focused on creating pragmatic positive scenarios for the future.

His career to date has spanned professions and geographies. It started with a multidisciplinary education which was encouraged by his Mid-Western USA family of educators and entrepreneurs (Vanderbilt: degrees in geology and civil engineering, Cornell: structural engineering, entrepreneurship and at ETH Zurich: Doctorate in Architecture). He was then a faculty at the University of Oregon, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and at MIT where he taught courses on Design and Technology.

He joined Arup in London to lead the Research and Development group in 1999 and became a corporate intrapreneur by founding the Foresight, Innovation and Incubation teams. He is proud to have been accused by the Guardian of having a mindset “in league with the future”. For twenty years he travelled the globe sharing his observations and insights by leading projects focused on the future for Arup, Arup’s clients and for many of the world’s leading institutions.

He has spoken at TED, WEF, Aspen Design, keynoted hundreds of other conferences around the world and is a member of the nominating committee for the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize.

Isabelle Grosmaître

Founder & CEO of Goodness & Co, a new kind of change management consultancy to serve CEOs, leaders and organisations on a mission to shift purpose into practice. Author of “Business as a Force for Good – How Courageous Leaders Shift Purpose Into Practice”.

As Catalyst of Change, Isabelle is at the heart of leadership movements, acting for better futures. She is the Steward of the For Good Leaders movement, Co-founder of the “Board Member Program” of ChangeNOW, Chairwoman of the Advisory Board of the Value Balancing Alliance (VBA), and Co-founder of Generation Glasgow. She has joined the 100 Women @Davos, the global community of impactful women leaders of the World Economic Forum.

Chair of the Grand Jury: Harald Neidhardt

CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute, where he has grown an influential faculty and think tank of innovators, futurists and thought leaders – home to the co-creators of desirable, regenerative futures. He is the initiator of the Futur/io CSO Awards for sustainable leadership and the host of the CSO Impact Podcast.

Harald is an advisor to the UNFCCC Resilient Frontiers initiative, Future Council of the Berlin Expo 2035 initiative and a prior expert member of the World Economic Forum workgroup on digital platforms & ecosystems projects. He is a Singularity University alumnus and is a keynote speaker on sustainable innovation at many international conferences, including COP26, TEDx (Hongkong, Hamburg, Marrakesh), SXSW, SingularityU Summit (NL/USA/DE), Wired, Next, MWC/4YFN and is a speaker at corporate executive events.

He’s published five books, most recently “Leadership for Sustainable Futures”, “Moonshots for Europe”, and “Before this Decade is Out”.

Selection Criteria: the Four Quadrant Model

1 – Science & Behaviour Based Maturity Index – Imperial College (External Research Based): 

The Leonardo Centre at Imperial College has created a comprehensive global dataset that analyses corporate sustainability behaviours, enabling a thorough assessment of the maturity levels of the top 100 companies. Utilising this dataset, the Impact Maturity Index ranks companies within various sectors and geographies, providing valuable insights into their sustainability performance.

2 – ESG Qualitative Rating (External Research Based): 

Using publicly available ESG Ratings, it was assessed which companies are exceeding regulatory requirements in their advancements on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

3 – Planet (Internal & External Research Based) & People (External Research Based):

Futur/io trained an AI tool to analyse 100 sustainability reports from the companies of the Top 100 shortlisted CSOs for the CSO Awards, extracting pertinent information on Greenhouse Gas emissions, Biodiversity measures, and Water usage. Additionally, research partner Rainforest Partnership carried out an in-depth analysis on biodiversity aspects of each company.

Finally, research partner Denominator created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matrix score and research partner Rainforest Partnership created a matrix score for rainforest impact to assess relevant data in these areas. After that, scores were assigned for these five impact areas (GHG, Biodiversity, Water, DEI and Rainforest Impact).

4 – Survey & Self-Assessment (Internal Research Based):

The Top 100 CSOs were invited to contribute to a Survey & Self-Assessment, based on external ESG Ratings and the Imperial College Maturity Index.

About Futur/io Institute 

We believe in co-creating desirable futures where ideas and innovation drive a regenerative economy that benefits people and the planet within the planetary boundaries.

The Futur/io Institute is a pioneering organisation to serve the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers dedicated to transforming businesses to drive positive impact for people, planet and prosperity. We do this through publications, podcasts and convening at inspiring locations like Davos, Basel, Lisbon, Venice and New York.

With a mission to inspire ambition, action and cross-pollination to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the institute provides a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape the futures of business and society.

Futur/io works with organisations like the UNFCCC or corporations in leadership training and curates Executive Programmes to inspire future leaders in sustainable innovation. Each year in Davos, the institute organizes executive receptions and recently debuted the annual CSO Awards to shine a light on the leadership role of Chief Sustainability Officers.

Futur/io is based in Hamburg and works as a think-tank with a selected international and diverse faculty of 100+ leaders in sustainability. The most recent book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” was published in May 2024 with Murmann Publishers. CEO & curator Harald Neidhardt hosts the CSO Impact Podcast.

futur.io

Additional Info

https://www.csoawards.org/europe

Pictures of the 20 Nominees and Grand Jury Members are available on our Press Folder.

Media Contacts

Barbara Axt – Media Relations 
barbara@futur.io

Luciana Prestes – Head of Marketing 
luciana@futur.io

December 10, 2024 /3BL/ – A new scorecard released today shows how 10 federal financial regulators have implemented hundreds of actions in the last 18 months to address the systemic financial risks of climate change. However, U.S. regulators have much more work to do to address these risks as the frequency and severity of weather disasters continue to increase.

The 2024 Climate Risk Scorecard: Assessing U.S. Financial Regulator Action on Climate Financial Risk found most of the assessed regulators have made meaningful strides in producing research and data on climate risk and incorporating these risks into their oversight of regulated entities. However, urgent action is required to improve climate-related disclosures, increase transparency in climate-related risk management practices, including within regulatory frameworks, implement climate-related scenario analysis, and assess climate risks on financially vulnerable communities.

Among those assessed include the Federal Reserve Bank (the Fed), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

“Our latest scorecard reveals a critical narrative: U.S. financial regulators increasingly recognize the profound economic risks from climate change. However, there is so much more to do to catch up with global counterparts,” said Steven M. Rothstein, Managing Director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. “From initial hesitation to proactive strategies, there has been a meaningful evolution in the past four years with how these institutions approach climate-related financial risks. We remain hopeful that future administrations will continue to build upon this momentum, implementing forward-thinking policies that safeguard and strengthen the resiliency of our financial systemin the face of unprecedented challenges related to a warming planet.”

Notable progress in this year’s scorecard includes:

The Federal Reserve System (Fed), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) published the final interagency guidance Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions.The three banking regulators adopted a historic interagency update to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations, incorporating climate resiliency and disaster preparedness provisions for the first time, and representing the most significant changes to the CRA in 20 years.The SEC finalized its landmark climate disclosure rule requiring all U.S. publicly listed companies to report climate-related financial risks.The U.S. Treasury published the Principles for Net Zero Financing and Investment in September 2023 and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles in March 2024 with the White House, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy.The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) published climate-related risk management guidance for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and Home Loan Banks.

Regulators were assessed on progress achieved from July 2023 through November 2024 across key categories, using previous years as a baseline, measuring whether each regulator has:

Publicly affirmed climate as a systemic riskExpanded internal climate-related capacitiesIncreased transparency regarding climate-related risk management activitiesAssessed climate risks on financially vulnerable communitiesProduced research and data on climate changeConducted climate-related scenario analysisImproved climate-related disclosureIncluded climate risk in supervisory guidanceIncluded climate risk in regulation

The full methodology can be found here.

2023 and 2024 were record years for the U.S., with dozens of weather disasters where losses exceed $1 billion in damages, costing over $92.9 billion in 2023 and $61.6 billion in 2024, according to the latest estimates. With the frequency and severity of these disasters expected to increase over the years, the economic challenges presented by these events will affect everything from insurance and housing to banking and the stock market, and could endanger the stability of the entire financial system, underlining the need for federal regulators to accelerate their efforts to address this systemic risk as part of their existing responsibilities.

The 2024 Scorecard follows up on three previous scorecards, assessing nine categories outlined in the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s October 2021 Report on Climate-Related Financial Risk.

 About Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets 

The Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets is center within Ceres that aims to transform the practices and policies that govern capital markets by engaging federal and state regulators, financial institutions, investors, and corporate boards to act on climate change as a systemic financial risk. For more information, visit ceres.org/accelerator.  

Media contact:  

Diane May, Ceres   
dmay@ceres.org