Tag: 3BL

Originally published in Lenovo’s 2023/24 ESG Report

I am pleased to introduce our FY 2023/24 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report. This is the 18th consecutive year we have published such a report, demonstrating our commitment, persistence, and ongoing progress in these areas.

Clearly, the past year presented our world with numerous challenges, but it also brought us unprecedented opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI). It is clear that AI will be a major priority and influence in our business for years to come.

We are committed to accelerating the deployment of AI for businesses around the world through AI-enabled, AI-optimized, and AI-ready devices, infrastructure, solutions, and services. Even more, we recognize our duty to leverage this technology to improve the lives of people around the world while minimizing its impact on the planet. This recognition led to our ‘Smarter AI for All’ vision. In this report, I would like to share with you how Lenovo continues to drive ESG forward in the AI era.

AI for environmental sustainability

We’re proud to be on-track for our 2030 emissions reductions goals, after announcing our commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in alignment to the Science Based Targets initiative’s Net-Zero Standard.

Fueled by our own commitments and services-led transformation, we continue to meet our customers wherever they are on their ESG journey with our sustainability services. In 2023, Lenovo announced the new reduced carbon transport service for global logistics, as well as L.I.S.S.A., an AI-powered consultant that can help customers optimize their IT solutions in support of their sustainability goals.

Lenovo’s transformation from a device company into a solution provider is fueling us into a global technology powerhouse. Our sustainability solutions and services offer customers the ability to extend the use of their devices, manage and measure their IT fleet’s carbon footprint, contribute to the circular economy, and even have their equipment shipped more sustainably.

While we enhance our customers’ sustainability strategies with Lenovo services, we are also proud to be recognized as a Climate+TM Champion by EPEAT, the premier global ecolabel for electronics and technology products. More than 400 Lenovo products have been designated with Climate+, which highlights their thoughtful production with climate in mind.

Inclusive AI

We see tremendous opportunity that AI can lead to a more inclusive future. Few examples highlight this better than my interactions with Gabriel, a gentleman from Brazil who communicates through Libras (Brazilian sign language). An AI solution not only helped me communicate with Gabriel but also allowed him to introduce me to our 2023 Tech World audience. This solution is a breakthrough for the 2.3 million people in Brazil who are deaf or hard of hearing and use Libras to communicate, and a signal of the inclusion that Lenovo’s technology can power.

As AI is adopted for various solutions, it cannot offer the best solutions without inclusive data sets. Lenovo is proud to support the work of Cercle InterL and the Women & AI Charter for accountable and gender fair AI.

Responsible and ethical AI

Lenovo is shaping our AI integrations with a strong governance model – the Responsible AI governance framework that covers ethical, legal, safety, privacy and accountability concerns of AI. The framework is executed by a committee that focuses on the following principles: diversity and inclusion, privacy and security, accountability and reliability, explainability, transparency, and environmental and social impact.

In February 2024, we committed to UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence to build an ethical and responsible AI. This standard and our commitment to it further acknowledges the intersection of AI and the sustainable development goals. As a member of the United Nations Global Compact, we will readily adopt collaborative governance frameworks that protect the potential and role of AI in global development.

Milestones on our journey

The following recognitions have been received by Lenovo in the past year, including:

Lenovo’s Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ranking was maintained at AAA status, the highest possible score for corporations leading in ESG programs.The Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index awarded Lenovo the strongest score in the IT Industry for Environmental and Social Achievements and an AA score overall.Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (HKICPA) Gold Award in Most Sustainable Companies and Organizations section of the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Award, making 2023 the eleventh year that Lenovo has been recognized by HKICPA for its corporate citizenship.Lenovo was ranked number eight in Gartner’s 2023 Global Top 25 Supply Chain ranking, at the same time ranking number one in the Gartner Asia Pacific Supply Chain for the second year running.

As we continue our journey, it is more important than ever to maintain our thoughtful, measurable, and credible approach to our ESG programs. The world has changed a lot since our first sustainability report in FY 2008/09, but I am proud of our continued commitment to reporting our progress. Despite constant change and times of uncertainty, we will lead with persistence and resilience, push toward our stated goals, and work toward a more sustainable future for all.

Yuanqing Yang

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Lenovo Group Limited

Read more

How are we building a circular economy for plastics in Thailand? The simple answer is ‘together’—because it takes a village, or in this case, the entire community.

Building a circular economy: An introduction

A circular economy for any type of material is a disruption to the traditional, linear thinking of “take-make-dispose” in which natural resources are developed into products and then disposed of after use. It is a new way of doing business and consuming goods that maximizes the value of resources—supporting the repurposing, or circularity, of materials.

This transition is important to support a more sustainable future around the world, and it will take collaboration and innovation to achieve it. A circular economy takes a product’s total lifecycle into account—from the resources used to create it, to how it is made, to its use, disposal, and reuse.

Circularity can help the world meet a wide variety of complex sustainability challenges like the conservation of biodiversity, addressing pollution, and protecting the climate.

What is the materials ecosystem?

The materials ecosystem around plastic and renewable waste harnesses recycling technologies and circular solutions to recapture this value, thereby reducing landfill, incineration, and environmental leakage.

To drive progress, collaboration is key. This includes developing new technology to transform waste, investment in effective recycling infrastructure and circular systems, supportive policies, brands designing for circularity, and consumers believing their recycling efforts matter.

Working within the community to strengthen the circular economy in Thailand

Our team in Thailand has been actively engaging local communities—from government organizations to academic institutions—to help identify and enable solutions to environmental challenges faced in the region while supporting economic and social opportunity in those communities. This cross-sector collaboration allows us to work alongside local partners to effectively deploy innovations and technologies for positive impact.

One way we work within communities around the world is through the Dow Business Impact Fund. Launched in 2016, our Business Impact Fund leverages Dow’s technology and expertise to unlock innovative solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Funding proposals come directly from our employees worldwide, tapping their unique skills, business knowledge and diversity of locations and experiences.

Our collaboration to develop a Materials Recovery Facility in Thailand

The Plastic Circularity Community Enterprise Material Recovery Facility (MRF) opened in 2023 in Rayong Province, Thailand near one of our existing manufacturing sites. The MRF aims to manage waste, used plastic packaging, and discarded materials in Ban Chang, Rayong.

The project adopts a circular economy and sustainability framework to encourage waste segregation, improve the recovered material’s quality, and develop new products from waste. The collaboration also includes wastewater treatment and energy generated from refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The RDF is a composite material produced from post-consumer and commercial waste, including scrap wood, fruit peels and multilayer plastics.

The MRF initiative expects to sort and enhance the quality of recyclable materials, with the goal of preventing over 1,000 tons of plastics and other materials from ending up in landfills every year. By returning these materials to the production stream, this initiative estimates that it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,400 tons of CO2eq annually.

Enabled by a grant from the Dow Business Impact Fund and matching funding from the Thailand government, this pilot project is also Thailand’s first community-owned enterprise for high-quality plastic waste recovery. In addition to reducing plastic waste and providing a source of high-quality secondary raw materials and renewable feedstock for our polyethylene production in Thailand, the successful implementation will also help generate sustainable income for the local community.

Combining experience and expertise

This endeavor demonstrates how much can be achieved by working side by side across organizations, sectors, and stakeholders. The MRF initiative aims to both support the local economy and prevent waste from entering the environment.

Our collaboration with the local community began through a partnership called Improving Community’s Segregated Plastic Waste through Science, Technology, and Innovation. We initiated this partnership with the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) in 2021. That collaboration, through the combined experience and expertise of its partners, enabled the community engagement necessary to develop Thailand’s first high-quality MRF.

Growing collaboration

Over time, the partnership has expanded to attract more local strategic partners across sectors, each playing a critical role in driving the initiative forward.

Our Thai collaborators on the MRF initiative include:

Program Management Unit for Competitiveness: providing government fundingThailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research: supporting local and cost-effective technologies and machinesPlastics Institute of Thailand: supporting business model developmentRayong Province & Ban Chang District: supporting project implementation and executionBan Chang Municipality: providing an area for operations, preparing infrastructure and utilities

Scaling a sustainable model

The MRF initiative has been collaborative before the idea was even set into action. It began as a series of public hearing sessions to understand local needs. Over 400 members of the community attended these sessions.

Since the start-up of the MRF in September 2023, the initiative has created four full-time jobs that focus on waste collection and sorting, waste record tracking, and facility maintenance. At the same time, community members can increase their income by selling recyclable waste to the facility and by reselling upcycled products associated with facility operations.

As the MRF initiative is fully deployed, the goal is to engage more community members in the Ban Chang District through an online application system and an increase in the number of waste collection hubs. The initiative aims to continue expanding partnerships with local schools, temples, department stores, and government offices throughout the second half of 2024. With additional waste storage area and expanded building space, the initiative intends to assess staffing to meet program growth and the facility’s overall capacity.

As the initiative proceeds, the results of a broader survey are expected in early 2025 that will serve as the foundation for a formalized Community Benefits Plan. This will help create and sustain the Just Transition to a healthy, circular economy in the local area.

Unlocking the value of waste

Waste should be viewed as a valuable resource waiting to be harnessed. We are witnessing firsthand how barriers to transforming waste are being broken down through technology, and the value of recycled materials is increasing.

The materials ecosystem allows us to address current gaps, connect the best partners, and disrupt how the world values, sources, transforms, and monetizes waste.

About the article

This case study was developed by a cross-discipline team representing geographic, social equity, materials and sustainability expertise across Dow, Inc. To learn more about how Dow is accelerating positive social change and creating a sustainable future, visit the Company’s Purpose in Action pages.

Hunger is a growing crisis. It’s also one we can solve. This Giving Tuesday (December 3rd), Action Against Hunger is highlighting a range of ways that people can get involved with the cause:

Donate your points with an IHG match: If you’re traveling this holiday season–or simply have points from previous stays–your donated points can make a meaningful difference. IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global hospitality company, is partnering with Action Against Hunger to help screen children for malnutrition so they can get the often lifesaving care they need. IHG will match up to 10 million IHG One Rewards points donated between December 3-10, 2024. Learn more here.Shop (or just browse) for a cause: With Tab for a Cause, your search for the perfect gift or holiday destination can generate funds for Action Against Hunger. Ready to buy? Gladly will donate to Action Against Hunger when you buy from one of their 5,000 partner sites. Or, instead of giving physical items, Action Against Hunger makes it easy for you to purchase a symbolic gift for everyone on your list, from a clean cooking stove for the foodies to seeds for the plant lover to a gift that helps other mothers – something the Mom in your life might love.Tune into Turner Classic Movies: On December 3rd, Zain E. Asher, CNN International news anchor and Action Against Hunger Advisory Council Member, will narrate viewers through three classic movies related to hunger and conflict: Sounder, Hotel Rwanda, and Half of a Yellow Sun. She’ll discuss key themes and the way they relate to events taking place in the world today. Since effective action starts with understanding, this is appointment viewing. Plan your watch party and share your thinking on social!

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, make a plan to give early in the holiday season. You can give online and Action Against Hunger accepts everything from credit cards to crypto.

Learn more and kick off the holiday season with Action Against Hunger here.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

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Photo by Peter Caton

For over three decades, Bath & Body Works has been dedicated to making a positive difference in the communities where it does business. When everyone has access to resources that make them feel safe, healthy and secure, living a happy, fulfilling life becomes much easier. The brand’s ongoing partnership with the global nonprofit Good360 strengthens this initiative, creating an even greater impact.

Bath & Body Works taps into Good360’s vast network of more than 100,000 nonprofit partners to target donations where they’re needed most—shelters, food banks, disaster recovery efforts, and more—giving products a new life and reducing waste.

In March 2023, Bath & Body Works and Good360 began their partnership through a pilot donation program which took unsold items marked-out-of-stock from Bath & Body Works stores. By the end of that pilot year, Bath & Body Works donated over 400,000 products to nonprofits, supporting underserved communities and creating immediate social and environmental benefits.

“We are so grateful to Bath & Body Works for their generous donations,” says Tom Davis, Senior Director of Partnership Development at Good360. “In time of a life-crisis or disaster, personal care items represent the value of self-care, empowerment, and comfort, which helps lift spirits while fulfilling an essential need. Through this partnership, we are able to positively impact thousands of lives for those who need it most.”

Building on the pilot’s success, Bath & Body Works expanded the program, donating $14.7 million in products this year to support people in need locally and across the country. This included a donation of 250,000 hand soaps in honor of Global Handwashing Day on October 15. 

“We’re proud to support thousands of communities through these donations, ensuring that everyone has access to the basic items they need to lead a healthy and fulfilling life,” says Ian Estep, Senior Manager of Community Relations and Philanthropy at Bath & Body Works. “Our partnership with Good360 reflects our values and commitment to making the world a brighter, happier place through the power of fragrance.”

Read more about Bath & Body Works’ philanthropic efforts and community outreach at bbwinc.com.

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced a collaboration with long-term partner Alstom, aimed at developing and delivering sustainable solutions for mobility customers. 

Schneider Electric is an established leader in the decarbonization of the transportation industry, and Alstom is a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility. Their collaboration went a step forward with Schneider Electric signing Alstom’s Alliance Partnership Program charter at InnoTrans 2024. The companies will work closely to reduce the environmental impact of the mobility industry. Solutions include: 

Adopting innovative, lower-carbon technology such as SF6-free medium-voltage switchgear. Supporting circularity and limiting the lifetime environmental impact of equipment. Increasing energy efficiency by adopting advanced technology, software, and products that optimize energy use.  Reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to meet Alstom’s targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative as aligning with the Paris Agreement.  

The collaboration will also address the need to digitalize future mobility. Software and digital services can identify areas for improvement across the entire industry. For example, connected technology, like sensors, can collect data for predictive maintenance and safer, remote operations. 

A long history of sustainable collaboration   

In 2023, Schneider Electric supported Alstom in executing a new power purchase agreement (PPA), focused on solar development in Andalusia, Spain. This project leveraged Schneider Electric’s expertise, including its leadership in strategic purchase agreements and negotiations. The 160 GWh/year solar PPA covers approximately 80% of Alstom’s electricity consumption in Europe.  

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Before his barbecued food won an award, before he was featured on a YouTube series and before he purchased a commercial smoker and food truck, Darren W. Carter was a guy who worked full-time at a steel mill in downtown Cleveland and had a passion for barbecuing meat for his family and friends.

“I would post pictures of my food on Facebook and Instagram, and it got to a point where people kept commenting how they wanted to try it,” Carter said. “Someone said they would pay to eat it, and we decided to put that to the test.”

Carter and his wife, Theresa, put together a dinner of his ribs and her side dishes, and sold all 70 plates they prepared.

“We did another dinner and it sold out again,” he said. “Then it started growing from there.”

The Carters continued selling their food at church dinners and other events. After much research, Carter decided he needed a smoker and trailer so the couple could sell their barbecue at food truck parks and other locations.

“I attempted to get a traditional loan through a different bank and they denied us,” he said. “I still have that letter framed on my desk in my basement because I knew we’d find a way to do what we wanted to do.”

The Carters turned to a crowdfunding loan platform and got money to make down payments on the equipment they needed. They also worked with the city of Cleveland to get a license and in May of 2022, the Carter’s BBQ truck had its grand opening.

“We did well the first year; people want to check out the new kid on the block,” Carter said. “We had to turn down a lot of gigs because I was still working at the steel mill and doing the barbecue part time.”

Carter suffered an injury while working at the steel mill and was unable to work either job for several months, which put a strain on their finances.

He contacted Norlynn Story, a business access advisor for U.S. Bank who he had met through the church they both attend years earlier. The Carters have a business account with U.S. Bank as well.

“We’ve done quite a bit of work together to help him understand the cost structure for his business and how it can be profitable,” Story said. “I also advised them on how to get a Minority Business Enterprise certification, which can open up a lot of opportunities for them.”

Story also connected Carter with the Ohio-based Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), a Community Development Financial Institution designed to serve as a one-stop resource center for entrepreneurs regardless of their background, gender or race.

“Building bridges to opportunities for an inclusive economy means using our strong, 161-year history and deep commitment to partnerships to connect clients to the resources and capital needed to succeed,” Story said.

Through ECDI, Carter was able to refinance the crowdsourced loan at a much better interest rate and payback schedule, he said.

“My wife has also taken advantage of their mentorship program,” Carter said. “With ECDI, we’ve gotten business planning advice and other resources.”

The Carters also connected with the GoDaddy and Better Business Bureau Empower program, which also provides resources to entrepreneurs.

As part of Empower, The Carters were featured in Made in America, a YouTube program that highlighted their journey.

“That was a great experience,” he said. “Now we’re immortalized on YouTube.”

In addition to serving cooked food, the Carters are selling seasoning blends and sauces people can use at home. Story encouraged the Carters to diversify their revenue streams by selling those products online.

“At the moment, we’re blending them and bottling them by hand,” Carter said. “But we found a company that will mass produce it for us and we’re working on getting it into retail stores and selling it on our website.”

As the business has grown, Story and the Carters have stayed close.

Story accompanied the Carters to the Taste of Black Cleveland showcase, which Carter had applied to twice in previous years before being accepted in 2024.

“We were just excited to be able to be in front of all those people and have them sample our food, thinking the best-case scenario would be that someone would like it and check us out again,” he said.

They ended up winning the award for best food truck/caterer.

“They called our name and I just froze; I was in disbelief,” he said. “It was Norlynn who pulled at me and told me to go up to the stage.”

Carter’s BBQ has since been booked at a few events by people who attended the Taste of Black Cleveland and reached out to the Carters.

“It’s paying dividends,” Carter said. “I love it.”

December 3, 2024 /3BL/ – Climate super pollutants – like methane, black carbon, low-level ozone and nitrous oxide – are responsible for roughly half of global warming. And they are far more potent than CO2 in the critical near-term. Unfortunately, carbon markets and carbon accounting, used worldwide to drive climate action, have systematically undervalued or completely overlooked these pollutants, leaving companies and governments with only half the data they need to make informed decisions. Until now.

Join the Global Heat Reduction Initiative’s Executive Director, Kiff Gallagher, and U.S. Leading Climate Scientist, Dr. Drew Shindell, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 12:00pm ET for an in-depth discussion on the importance of slashing climate super pollutants and how corporations, NGOs, cities, and institutions can measure and mitigate excess atmospheric heat in the critical next decade. In this 45-minute discussion, you will learn:

About the latest progress on super pollutant science and agreements from COP29 and around the world.Why it’s critical to target super pollutants in your climate action plan, climate mitigation investment portfolio and/ or net zero target setting.How to reduce business risk, make better mitigation investments, and get credit for the work you’re already doing by measuring and managing all drivers of global warming.

A live Q&A session will follow the discussion.

Who should attend? 

Business leaders and decision-makers in the private, public and NGO sectorsLeaders and designers of climate action plans, carbon emissions management and/or net zero targetsAnyone interested in reducing climate super pollutants and joining the heat reduction communityAnyone interested in reducing climate super pollutants and joining the heat reduction communitySustainability professionals of all kinds

SIGN UP NOW

About Kiff Gallagher

Kiff Gallagher is the Executive Director of the Global Heat Reduction Initiative. Previously, he was the Head of Sustainability and Carbon Platform at blockchain company, BlockApps, and Senior Vice President at Winrock International where he helped manage the American Carbon Registry (ACR). He has founded and led organizations across sectors and industries including sustainable supply chains and food systems, technology & media, global economic development and U.S. public policy.

About Dr. Drew Shindell

Dr. Drew Shindell is the Nicholas Professor of Earth Sciences at Duke University, a long-time IPCC Contributor, chair of Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s scientific advisory panel, and a member of our Global Heat Reduction Initiative Technical Advisory Panel. He has been an author on more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and received awards from Scientific American, NASA, the EPA, and the NSF.

Southwire recently installed solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging systems at its Corporate Headquarters in Carrollton, GA and Customer Service Center in Fontana, CA.

The company is aiming to install EV charging stations at all manufacturing plants, customer service centers, and large offices over the next several years. The initiative’s goal is to support team members who choose to drive an electric vehicle and to power the company’s own EVs.

Standard EV charging stations are connected to the electrical grid. These new units are stand-alone systems that have an integrated solar panel, battery, and two charge ports.

If necessary, the units can be relocated, should conditions at the site change. Southwire is installing these units as a proof-of-concept pilot to assess whether an off-grid system can meet the company’s requirements.

“For our manufacturing sites and large offices, we typically install standard charging systems in conjunction with facility upgrades or other projects,” explained Bo Quick, vice president, Corporate Sustainability. “In cases where we lease the facility, it generally does not make sense for us to invest in electrical infrastructure upgrades to support EV charging. Instead, we are optimistic that an off-grid solar charging system will meet our needs and help us accelerate our transition to electric vehicles with adaptable infrastructure.”

Southwire introduced its formal sustainability philosophy in 2008 based on five tenets: Growing Green, Living Well, Giving Back, Doing Right and Building Worth. Installing electric vehicle charging systems supports both the tenets of Growing Green (environmental stewardship) and Living Well (team member benefit).

Southwire is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of wire and cable used in the transmission and distribution of renewable electricity and EV charging.

To learn more about Southwire’s commitment to sustainability, visit our website at https://www.southwire.com/sustainability.

Originally published on 3M News Center

Anya Ellis took an interest in STEM at an early age.

“I remember saving money from a lemonade stand to buy my first microscope and examine insects on slides,” she said.

Today, Anya is freshman at Georgia Tech and working toward a degree in biomedical engineering.

She is part of a group of young women who have received scholarships from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) through the efforts of 3M corporate scientist, Jayshree Seth.

Aside from her 80 patents, and work in product development, Jayshree has also written three books full of guidance for aspiring scientists, engineers and leaders in STEM. In 2020, Jayshree teamed up with SWE, the world’s largest advocate for encouraging women to pursue engineering, to use all the proceeds from her book sales to fund the Jayshree Seth Scholarship for Women of Color in STEM. To date, the scholarship has awarded nearly $30,000 to five recipients.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity this scholarship provides, not only as a financial support but as an affirmation of my place in STEM,” said Anya.

Among other things, Jayshree has credited a strong support system – from family and friends to peers, colleagues and bosses – as a major factor in her career achievements and believes in the power of paying it forward.

“I believe through mentorship, we can further advocate and encourage more women, girls and underrepresented minorities to enter careers in manufacturing, engineering and the sciences,” says Jayshree. “I truly believe greater diversity in these fields will lead to greater impact. A diverse workforce is a robust workforce.”

The 2023 scholarship recipient, Janae Gillus of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she studies computer engineering, comes from a family of engineers. Janae had accompanied her mother to National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) meetings when she was in kindergarten and learned how to code in the fourth grade.

Janae notes that after observing a lot of male-dominated activities in high school, she values the more diverse STEM community she’s found at the college level. “It can be hard being the only female or black student but knowing there are others who are experiencing something similar is comforting,” she said.

Olanrewaju Famakinwa, the scholarship’s 2022 recipient, put her award to use studying chemical and biomolecular engineering at Johns Hopkins University, where she plans to graduate in 2026.

“The summers before school, my grandmother came from Nigeria and taught me math,” Olanrewaju said. “I was certain I would be a mathematician when I grew up. However, in 10th grade, I took my first chemistry class and loved it. I wasn’t sure whether to study one or another or to do both. Then, my mom had a brilliant idea—chemical engineering!”

Like Anya, Olanrewaju said her gratitude for the scholarship has her looking for ways to pay it forward. “Both professionally and personally, I want my impact on the world to improve the lives of other people.”

Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018. In that role, she uses her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance and communicate the benefits of science and the importance of diversity in STEM fields to drive innovation. Jayshree is the fourth woman and first female engineer to be inducted into 3M’s science and innovation “hall of fame,” the Carlton Society.

“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write,” Jayshree said in a recent social media post. By using her own pen to offer mentorship to STEM aspirants and using all the proceeds from her books to help others on their way, she has found a way to apply her own advice twice over.

Jayshree’s newest book, The Heart of Science: Engineering Blueprint, is now available on Amazon. This book has 40 frameworks and mental models that Jayshree has developed to help navigate both practical tasks and profound challenges. It follows her 2020 volume, The Heart of Science: Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints, and her 2022 follow-up, The Heart of Science: Engineering Fine Print.

All proceeds from The Heart of Science trilogy go to the same scholarship administered by SWE. Jayshree believes “The gift of education – it is the best gift you can ever give!”

Below is the full list of scholarship recipients:

2024 Scholar:

Name: Anya Ellis 
School: Georgia Tech 
Major: Biomedical Engineering

2023 Scholars:

Name: Janae Gillus 
School: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 
Major: Computer Engineering

Name: Judy Ojeiwa 
School: University of Utah 
Major: Computer Engineering

2022 Scholar:

Name: Olanrewaju Famakinwa 
School: Johns Hopkins University 
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

2021 Scholar:

Name: Jhane Sulcer 
School: Georgia Institute of Technology 
Major: Mechanical Engineering

Saint-Gobain North America, through its building materials subsidiary CertainTeed Roofing, has achieved a 49% reduction in landfill waste over the past year at its Shreveport site through the building of a new recycling area at the facility. By taking steps in the design to segregate waste materials and mitigate cross-contamination, the facility has been able to increase its recycling scope, lowering the amount of material ending up in landfills.

The project, which was honored as a top sustainability initiative for Saint-Gobain North America in 2023, is part of the company’s continued efforts to implement its global Grow and Impact strategy. This strategy includes ambitious environmental sustainability goals, such as achieving zero waste-to-landfill across all Saint-Gobain locations.

The Shreveport plant, which has been in operation for nearly a century, took a series of small steps that significantly reduced its environmental footprint. These steps included building containment areas made of steel reclaimed from on-site demolition projects to ensure waste could be properly separated and contained for recycling.

“As leaders in light and sustainable construction, reducing our environmental footprint is a core part of our strategy. This project to reduce landfill waste can be replicated at other sites,” said Carmen Bodden, President of CertainTeed Roofing. “Congratulations to Shannan McKinnon and the entire Shreveport team for demonstrating how we Make the World a Better Home.”

This project follows several other recent actions taken by the company to solidify its commitment towards sustainability:

In October, Saint-Gobain announced CarbonLowTM, a new wallboard line that will contain up to 60% less embodied carbon. The line will be produced starting in 2025 from CertainTeed Canada’s facility in Montreal, which will be North America’s first zero-carbon (scopes 1 and 2) wallboard facility.Also in October, Saint-Gobain launched RenuCoreTM, technology that enables the recycling of asphalt shingles to be reused in hot mix asphalt paving.In September, the company’s Ceramics division achieved net-zero manufacturing at its Surface Conditioning facility in Anaheim, California.In August, Saint-Gobain enhanced operational practices at its glass mat plant in Charleston, South Carolina, saving over 4,500 MWh of energy.In July, Saint-Gobain announced that it will save over 10 million gallons of water per year through the installation of smart water submetering systems and other equipment upgrades at its CertainTeed Siding facility in Jackson, Michigan.In April, Saint-Gobain achieved Core Living Building Ready designation from the International Living Future Institute for its CertainTeed Innovation Center in Malvern, Pennsylvania.In March, Saint-Gobain announced that its CertainTeed Siding business had reduced manufacturing related emissions by 96% at three facilities in the United States.In February, Saint-Gobain completed the installation of a heat recovery system at its gypsum facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, which will lead to a 15% reduction in Scope 1 carbon emissions.

With over 160 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company’s team plays a vital role in achieving its sustainability goals. A current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations, including in Shreveport, can be found on the company’s career website.

About CertainTeed

With innovative building solutions made possible through its comprehensive offering of interior and exterior products, CertainTeed is transforming how the industry builds. As leaders in building science and sustainable construction, CertainTeed makes it easier than ever to create high-performance, energy-efficient places to live, work and play, so that together we can make the world a better home. 

  A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest and oldest building products companies, CertainTeed has more than 6,900 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. www.certainteed.com

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group’s commitment is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€47.9 billion in sales in 2023 
160,000 employees, locations in 76 countries 
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050