Tag: 3BL

The Chemours Company (Chemours), a global leader in delivering innovative performance chemistry, today announced the winners of its fourth annual Carrier of the Year Award, which recognizes excellence in the transportation of Ti-Pure™ titanium dioxide (TiO2) to Chemours customers. Hirschbach Transportation Services received the Platinum Award and Marten Transport received the Gold Award. This is the third year in a row that these carriers have received the top two awards of the program.

“These exceptional partners have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to service, reliability, and safety, ensuring that Ti-Pure™ products reach our customers efficiently,” said Diane Picho, Interim President, Titanium Technologies at Chemours. “Their dedication to excellence helps Chemours maintain our proud reputation as a trusted TiO2 partner to our customers. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership, rooted in our shared values, and achieving even greater success together.”

Hirschbach Transportation Services, a U.S.-based transportation company, was named the North America Platinum Carrier of the Year after winning the Gold award the past two years. Hirschbach more than doubled their truckloads with Chemours in 2023 while boasting an on-time delivery rate of 100%. Marten Transport, a U.S.-based transportation company, was named North American Gold Carrier of the Year, their fourth consecutive year receiving an award as part of this program. In 2023, Marten increased their truckloads with Chemours by 25% while also increasing their on-time delivery rate to 99%. Across categories, both carriers performed strongly while demonstrating unparalleled dedication and partnership.

The Titanium Technologies supply chain, procurement, and logistics teams, with support from CLX Logistics, developed criteria to evaluate top North American carriers by load counts. Carriers were assessed based on the 2023 rate of on-time pickup and delivery, customer service, safety, ease of doing business, EcoVadis score, among other metrics. The Titanium Technologies team assesses its carriers on an annual basis.

In a significant step toward sustainable development, DP World has expanded its Sustainable Development Impact Disclosure (SDID) to include Brazil, Senegal, and South Africa. This extension, which follows the company’s inaugural SDID in April 2024 focusing on India and Somaliland, underscores DP World’s deep commitment to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across critical regions in emerging markets.

With the inclusion of these three new countries, DP World is not only intensifying its sustainability efforts but also providing a comprehensive look at the tangible impacts its strategic investments have on communities and industries around the world. The SDID report reveals progress across a range of sustainability pillars, including resilient infrastructure, sustainable supply chains, and social impact initiatives. The company aims to bridge logistical and economic gaps in these regions, enhancing trade resilience and promoting community growth.

In Brazil, for example, DP World is collaborating with Rumo, a leading Brazilian logistics company, to develop a terminal in Santos capable of handling 12.5 million tons of grains and fertilizers annually. This project strengthens Brazil’s agricultural logistics and supports sustainable economic growth by improving the export capacity of vital resources.

Similarly, in Senegal, DP World’s investment of over $300 million has transformed port operations, with the Dakar terminal’s capacity increasing from 265,000 TEUs in 2008 to 800,000 TEUs by 2023. This investment not only bolsters Senegal’s trade connectivity but also facilitates access to markets previously difficult to reach, stimulating economic growth and opportunities for local businesses and communities.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World’s Group Chairman and CEO, highlighted the importance of these initiatives: “We are committed to investing at scale globally to strengthen trade resilience and foster positive social impacts in the communities where we operate. So we are immensely proud to extend this disclosure and highlight our contributions to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and bridge gaps in key developing economies. The report shows how the services DP World delivers create infrastructure, improve logistics services and provide opportunitities for communities.”

The development of this report was made possible through collaboration with the Impact Disclosure Taskforce, a global initiative composed of financial institutions and industry leaders dedicated to promoting standardized and reliable impact reporting. The SDID serves as a model for transparent impact measurement, allowing DP World to share clear insights into its contributions to social, economic, and environmental development.

Arsalan Mahtafar, Co-Chair of the Impact Disclosure Taskforce and Head of J.P. Morgan’s Development Finance Institution, said: “DP World has been a pioneer in using the Impact Disclosure Guidance to demonstrate how its business strategy will address country specific development challenges in key countries of operations. Their commitment to measuring and managing their development impact could provide SDG-focused investors the insights needed for informed investment and engagement decisions.”

The SDID not only strengthens DP World’s relationship with investors but also serves as a benchmark for other companies seeking to demonstrate their sustainability impact.

Cedric Merle, Co-Chair of the Impact Disclosure Taskforce, said: “DP World has led the way as the first company to pilot this framework. Now that it is fully operational, DP World has refined and expanded its application to other emerging markets in which it operates, including Brazil, Senegal, Somaliland, South Africa, and India. By showcasing real-world cases, DP World demonstrates the framework’s applicability and provides valuable insights on how to effectively communicate contributions to the SDG and close the development gap.”

Through continued adherence to the Impact Disclosure Guidance, DP World ensures that its investments meet rigorous standards for sustainable impact, which may position its securities as attractive options for sustainable capital. As the company continues to expand its efforts, DP World’s SDID remains a powerful testament to its vision for a future where logistics and infrastructure foster inclusive, sustainable growth around the globe.

For a complete view of DP World’s Sustainable Development Impact Disclosure, click here.

In 2023, we proudly delivered “Laboratorio de los Sueños,” an innovative environmental classroom at the Isidoro School in El Rosario de Marinilla, built entirely from recycled plastic waste. This initiative, marking our fourth iteration of the project and second classroom delivered, serves move than 40 students, providing a sustainable and dynamic learning environment.

In collaboration with the “Planeta Verde” cooperative and “Botellas de Amor” foundation, we collected 300 tons of recyclable plastic waste and transformed much of it into the classroom building and its furnishings. Additionally, we supplied 47 school kits and equipped a comprehensive library, reinforcing our commitment to educational enhancement through sustainable practices.

“We’re proud to enhance El Rosario de Marinilla’s learning spaces, reinforcing our comprehensive approach that merges environmental, economic, and social contributions to nourish lives,” said Zayda Martínez, general manager of Griffith Foods for the Andean Region.

This work is a result of an internal program Griffith Foods Colombia created to encourage proper waste management in the company called the ‘Súmate’ initiative. The initiative seeks to promote a culture of recycling at Griffith Foods facilities and for our employees at home. Since its beginning in 2019, a total of 600 tons of waste have been collected and the materials are processed with partners before being transformed into plastic wood. The plastic wood is used to make useful products for educational centers and schools (such as classrooms, desks or others).

Our Sustainability Journey 
At Griffith Foods, we are committed to driving positive impact through a regenerative mindset. Sustainability is connected to everything we do as a business, and by 2030, we are dedicated to significantly improving the future with a singular sustainable business strategy that we call our 2030 Aspirations. To learn more about Griffith Foods and its current sustainability efforts, visit them online and download the 2023 Sustainability Report. 

About Griffith Foods 
At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

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The Problem

Water-related risks are multiplying for all types of businesses in most regions globally. The intensification of such risks is largely due to a reliance on natural resources for the products we buy. Climate change-enhanced conditions result in too much water, not enough water, or water of poor quality. No matter where a site or organization is located, water is indispensable for the production of most commodities we purchase. Water is crucial to the operations, health, and welfare of employees and ensures we have food on the table. More than ever, stakeholders expect organizations to address shared water-related challenges and opportunities at their site and beyond their boundaries.

Confusion Is Holding Back Progress

Despite the increasing understanding of how much and to what degree various sectors depend on water resources and their corresponding impacts, it remains a struggle to onboard companies into active water stewardship participation. There are a variety of reasons for this, including: confusing lexicon; overlapping initiatives; lack of awareness; focus on monitoring and reducing carbon and methane; multiple water organizations and “entry” points; poorly understood return on investment; resource constraints; and the perception that water remains plentiful even in areas of scarcity.

Water Stewardship Requires Proactive Long-Term Thinking

The first step an organization can take is to conduct a materiality, use, and impact assessment to understand more thoroughly water-related dependencies. Also important is quantifying how an organization is sourcing and consuming water throughout the year. Do some sites have a higher tolerance for lower water quality? Are other sites being reassessed to comply with local and regional regulations on groundwater? The key is the prioritization of site(s) that require the most attention, investment and implementation of data monitoring, resources, innovative technologies, and water reuse technologies to offset water usage. Investors and other stakeholders are prioritizing businesses that demonstrate credible and impactful water stewardship practices, including adaptation and innovation with respect to improved recycling and water efficiency measures.

Lowering the Barriers to Entry

For organizations of all sizes, logical entry points to water stewardship can occur at different levels: enterprise-wide, operational site, across the supply chain, and at a product-based level. We value existing environmental management systems (EMS), and we see water as a nexus issue that brings many co-benefits, such as protecting nature and enhancing biodiversity. The integration of innovative technologies can be valuable to observe and predict changes, to understand and analyze impacts and risks, and ‘to take action’ with technologies that help build a climate and water resilient future.

Unprecedented Opportunity at Our Feet

Companies of all sizes have an opportunity to set rigorous targets and goals — and to take decisive action to achieve those goals. Not only setting but also meeting those goals showcases to stakeholders an organization’s progress year over year and demonstrates credibly that mitigating actions target the highest priority impacts and risks. Collectively, organizations have an opportunity to rethink, reimagine, and reshape their approach to water management by using sensors and data to go above and beyond.

The Water Council and SCS Global Services, Trusted Partners

The Water Council in partnership with SCS Global Services stand as trusted providers for organizational water stewardship. To address water-related risks and opportunities, it is critical that strategic action starts at the enterprise-level, is implemented at the site-specific level, and reaches across an organization’s entire supply chain. Together, The Water Council and SCS Global Services offer a holistic approach to comprehensive water stewardship, targeting action from the board room to the shop floor. By valuing accountability, credibility, transparency, and neutrality, organizations can stand out with verified and validated claims for water stewardship.

For more information about The Water Council, visit www.thewatercouncil.com.

For more information about SCS Water Stewardship programs, visit www.scsglobalservices.com/services/water-stewardship.

Have questions about water stewardship claims? Please reach out to SCS’ water services program manager, Lauren Enright: LEnright@scsglobalservices.com. 
 

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the non-profit global sustainable finance think-tank Climate & Company have entered into an agreement to work together to grow the adoption of international sustainability reporting standards throughout the value chain – enabling informed decision-making by companies, investors and other stakeholders.   

Climate & Company links policy-making, the financial industry and academia, and provides strategic advice on making regulatory standards work in practice. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), GRI and Climate & Company will engage in mutual collaboration to emphasize the alignment of values, mission and vision for the future.

The MoU was finalized in September, during Climate Week NYC. As a next step, GRI and Climate & Company are co-hosteding an event on the challenges and opportunities of climate reporting, to take place in Baku on November 15, during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29).

Identified areas that the two organizations intend to engage in include:

Joint working to support the uptake of impact reporting and use of the GRI Standards to address the impact side of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and encourage disclosure by SMEs and value chain actors globally.Coalition building – through engagements and events that foster the acceptance of ambitious sustainability standards, including the GRI Standards, as authoritative instruments for managing impacts on the environment and on human rights.Jointly submitting funding proposals to ecosystem supporters with the goal of pooling resources, relationships and aligning funders toward deeper engagement on sustainability reporting, focusing on the EU and G20 jurisdictions.

November 13, 2024 /3BL/ – VolunteerMatch, the largest, most trusted and most active Volunteer marketplace, today announced a major milestone: more than 19 million connections between dedicated volunteers and nonprofit organizations. In recognition of World Kindness Day, VolunteerMatch celebrates and honors these volunteers for their selfless efforts, and announces several new programs to engage the next 20 million volunteers.

“Reaching 19 million connections is a testament to the incredible spirit of service that exists within our communities,” said Erika Blaney, Chief Growth Officer. “We celebrate each and every volunteer – their acts of service foster understanding, fuel empathy, power change, and create meaningful connections in a world that can seem fragmented. It is an honor to be the bridge that connects people to organizations doing essential work.”

A nonprofit for nonprofits, VolunteerMatch provides impact organizations and prospective volunteers with a platform to connect and engage. VolunteerMatch’s mission has been to help people of all walks find their purpose and passion by forging deep nonprofit connections and community impact through acts of service. At any given time, VolunteerMatch features nearly 100,000 fully vetted nonprofit opportunities, representing more than 10 million active volunteer openings across 29 cause areas from organizations that have been vetted and validated for quality. Today, a new volunteer connects to a nonprofit through VolunteerMatch every 75 seconds.

In its quest to drive even greater volunteer engagement, VolunteerMatch has rolled out several exciting new features to enhance the volunteer experience, including:

Done in Day Volunteer Opportunities: A new category designed for those seeking quick, impactful ways to contribute.Specific Time Slot Registrations: Volunteers can now specify preferred volunteer time frames – such as weekdays, evenings or weekends – to display Volunteer opportunities that fit best with their availability.Direct Connect: Nonprofits can now direct interested volunteers to the organization’s Volunteer Management Software or registration page for faster, easier and more effective volunteer sign-up. 

These enhancements reflect VolunteerMatch’s commitment to continually improving its platform to better serve both volunteers and organizations.

As VolunteerMatch looks to the future, the organization is dedicated to further expanding its reach and impact. With innovative initiatives on the horizon, VolunteerMatch aims to facilitate even more connections and empower individuals to contribute to their communities.

Founded in 1998, VolunteerMatch puts the power of technology to good use by enabling the social sector, successfully unlocking more than $14 billion worth of volunteer time since its inception. With nearly 100,000 volunteer opportunities available at www.volunteermatch.org and delivered via its API for employee, customer, and government volunteer programs, VolunteerMatch connects nonprofits with an average of 105 volunteers per hour. With more than 19 million volunteers to date, spanning 29 cause areas, the award-winning nonprofit service has become the largest, most trusted and most active Volunteer marketplace. Learn more at volunteermatch.org.

DAVOS, Switzerland, and HAMBURG, Germany, November 13, 2024 /3BL/ – The names of Europe’s 100 leading Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) were announced today. Executives stem from a diverse range of industries including technology, retail, consumer brands, services, and luxury.

The list has been published by 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 100 names can be found on the Awards website – https://www.csoawards.org/europe/2025/top-100-csos

Confirming the gender trends in the sustainability roles, the list has 67 women and 33 men.

“The role of the CSO is to drive the ambition for a more sustainable business model within corporations. With the Awards, we want to celebrate the executives who are up to this challenge,” states Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute. “We are delighted to say that with every edition of the CSO Awards, we have more and more cases of professionals and companies pushing forward in their ambition for a future fit business with their sustainability leadership.”

Now in its second edition, the CSO Awards Europe takes place in Davos, Switzerland, during the week of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The gala ceremony, where the winners will be announced, will happen on January 20, 2025 in the iconic Schatzalp Hotel.

The first North American edition of the Awards took place during New York Climate Week this year, and awarded the leadership of pioneering Chief Sustainability Officers of the United States and Canada.

To be featured in the Top100 list, executives must be the CSO or highest sustainability representative of the company with an executive role, occupy the position for at least a year, and be considered a thought leader.

The names were selected from an extensive database of the most recognised companies with €1+ Billion revenue and European headquarters. The Top 100 and subsequent 20 nominees are, compiled and analysed by Futur/io and its knowledge partners Denominator, specialised in human-centric data, and Rainforest Partnership, focused on biodiversity. The data analysis considers the maturity of corporate behaviours, regulatory performance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) criteria, environmental and human impact, and a self-assessment survey.

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 organization 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 organises 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, launched in June 2024.

futur.io

Website for Additional Info:

https://csoawards.org/europe/

Media Contacts

Barbara Axt – Media Relations

barbara@futur.io

Luciana Prestes – Head of Marketing

luciana@futur.io

In this latest blog Cascale’s Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, Lee Green provides insight into Cascale’s latest steps toward a more inclusive, balanced approach for all members. From streamlining sustainability reporting with the Higg FEM updates to launching a new membership engagement model, he outlines how we are making meaningful changes that prioritize equity and amplify every voice in our community.

Read the full blog here.

In the 2024 China Agricultural Machinery Annual TOP50+ selection and release event, world-class equipment, technology and services company CNH won a number of important awards for its excellent products and services.

Case MAGNUM4002 Half-track Tractor won the “Application Contribution Award” for its excellent application performance and wide recognition from usersCNH’s customer support team has been awarded the Outstanding Service Team Award for the third time for its professionalism and efficiency

CNH’s service team won three awards – and its service strength was recognized by the market.

The CNH service team has always been attentive, prioritizing the customer, the timeliness of product training and on-site service technical support to a new height. They are committed to improving the user experience, improving the efficiency of equipment use, and jointly writing a new chapter in the sustainable development of agricultural machinery.

By constantly understanding the ideas and needs of customers, and working together with teams such as field support, technical support, training, warranty, and accessories, CNH provide an all-round multi-dimensional service for agricultural machinery users.

NEW YORK, November 12, 2024 /3BL/ – In a groundbreaking initiative to foster homeownership and financial inclusion, My Home Pathway has launched a comprehensive Home Buyer Nurture Program, with investment and support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, TransUnion, LISC NYC, Bilt Rewards and Morgan Stanley.

This innovative pilot program aims to equip aspiring homeowners with the resources, education, and the support necessary to navigate the complex journey to homeownership.

With support from program participants, My Home Pathway is launching a pilot to put forth actionable solutions to address existing gaps in equitable financial access for all. Also, My Home Pathway is an alumnus of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN), completing the program aimed at helping minority-owned companies.

The program was inspired by dialogue and participants at the Project REACH Financial Inclusion Summit (May 29-30, 2024) – part of the OCC’s Project REACh (Roundtable for Economic Access and Change), which promotes financial inclusion through greater access to credit and capital.*

“Our platform is designed to make the homebuying process as smooth and accessible as possible,” says Castleigh Johnson, CEO of My Home Pathway. “We are excited to collaborate with these esteemed partners to help more people realize their dream of owning a home.”

“Homeownership can create the type of generational wealth that’s necessary to close the racial wealth gap, but the road to obtaining it, particularly for minorities, is filled with blockades that make homeownership impossible,” says Valerie White, NYC LISC Director. “We’re proud to advance the Home Buyer Nurture Program with our partners and break down these blockades to boost homeownership and continue to do all we can to close the racial wealth gap that holds back the full power of our economy.”

“At Wells Fargo, we believe everyone should have access to a quality, affordable home and opportunities for creating generational wealth through homeownership,” says Stacy Spann, head of Housing Access and Affordability Philanthropy at Wells Fargo. “We see our funding as catalytic to empowering more individuals with the resources they need to become mortgage ready and achieve their homeownership goals.”

“With Bilt Rewards, renters can earn rewards on rent and in their neighborhood, while also building their credit and preparing for homeownership,” says Jonathan Lawless, vice president at Bilt Rewards. “It is critical to make renters aware of programs like the Home Buyer Nurture Program which can really give them a massive boost towards buying their first home.”

Empowering Future Homeowners:

The Home Buyer Nurture Program aims to address the persistent homeownership gap, especially within minority communities. This initiative will focus on marginalized and underserved communities, including Black, Hispanic, and other minority groups, to help bridge the homeownership gap and foster economic stability.

By leveraging the strengths and expertise of each partner organization, the program will offer a holistic approach to homeownership, focusing on financial education, credit improvement, and down payment assistance.

The program will be implemented in two phases. Phase one will focus on cities including Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; Queens, NY; Chicago, IL; Newark, NJ; and Detroit, MI. Additional cities for Phase two are being identified and will be finalized with input from program participants.

The mission is to unite key stakeholders in the homeownership sector to make homeownership accessible for everyone. This involves increasing access to capital for communities still lacking equitable resources decades after redlining was outlawed and supporting organizations that can provide affordable housing where available.

Results and lessons from the pilot will be used to encourage national objectives and collaboration across the nation to drive greater outcomes for consumers and mortgage market participants.

The program is looking to partner with interested mortgage lenders and other innovative organizations that would like to join our efforts to create sustainable change and equity for all.

For more information about the Home Buyer Nurture Program, please contact: Castleigh Johnson at castleigh@myhomepathway.com

Key Highlights:

Financial Education and Coaching: Participants will receive personalized financial coaching to improve their credit scores and financial habits. The program will include access to the My Home Pathway platform as well as workshops and access to digital tools for continuous learning.

Credit Improvement: Leveraging credit education tools, participants will have the opportunity to understand and improve their credit profiles, making them more attractive to lenders.

Downpayment Access and Special Purpose Credit Programs: The program will provide centralized access to down payment assistance programs and other special credit programs that are already available to assist prospective borrowers in the target cities in both phases.

Tech-Enabled Homebuyer Support: My Home Pathway will offer a seamless, tech-driven experience for participants, guiding them through the mortgage pre-approval process and providing ongoing support.

Tailored Outreach: The program will leverage audience marketing to reach underserved consumers and increase awareness of the Homeownership pilot program to further inclusion opportunities.

Program Supporters and Participants

TransUnion, a global information and insights company, is proud to help create opportunity for underserved consumers to advance their financial futures. As part of this initiative, TruAudience(TM) Intelligent Invitation to Apply (IITA) will be used to help promote credit products and offers to a custom audience based on credit-informed financial attributes. When working to reach underserved consumers, having the appropriate channel mix and precise audience targeting are key to achieving program goals.

Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program that allows renters to earn points on their rent payments, which can be redeemed for various benefits like travel, dining, fitness, and more.

The Prudential Foundation supports the Home Buyer Nurture Program to foster homeownership and financial inclusion in their home city of Newark, NJ via their financial support of the nonprofit organization Invest Newark.

Invest Newark is the City of Newark’s Economic Development Corporation. The organization drives economic growth and social equity through strategic initiatives focused on job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and investment attraction. It is partnering directly with My Home Pathway to bring the pilot program to Newark.

My Home Pathway, a tech platform dedicated to helping first-time homebuyers, will offer personalized coaching, loan pre-approvals, and homebuyer readiness assessments. Its innovative approach has already empowered many individuals to overcome financial barriers and achieve their homeownership dreams.

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* Note: References to the OCC and Project REACH do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, approval, or favoring of any Project REACH participant, the Home Buyer Nurture Program, My Home Pathway, or other affiliated entity or their actions by the OCC. National banks and federal savings associations are responsible for ensuring that all actions taken pursuant to the Home Buyer Nurture Program are consistent with safety and soundness, compliant with applicable laws and regulations, and protective of consumers’ rights, as applicable.

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