Tag: 3BL

Albertsons Companies’ Southwest Division recently celebrated the grand opening of a new Safeway store in Peoria, Arizona. To welcome the newest location, the Safeway Foundation awarded over $127,000 to nearby schools and nonprofits in support of education and youth outreach programs. Peoria Mayor Jason Beck, Michael Houston, Safeway Store Director and members of the Peoria community attended the grand opening event.

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Verizon

At Mohave Valley Junior High School, in Mohave Valley, Arizona, students get to try 3D printing, explore coding and design, experiment with virtual reality, and play with graphic design. It’s no secret that students love the school’s Verizon Innovative Learning Lab technology, but the educators are enjoying it, too. “I like being able to be on the cutting edge of what education can look like,” says Michael Ingerson, a Lab Mentor at the school.

For the students in this rural district, “the Verizon Innovative Learning Lab technology and curriculum has provided access to our students that they did not have before,” says Charlotte Hansen, principal at the school. “This kind of access matters because most of our students do not have the means at home or the experiences that most other students have in their homes. And so we’re able to provide those experiences at school, which could be life-changing for them.”

The struggling school suffered from low enrollment, with many families opting to send their children to charter schools instead. Today, however, Mohave Valley’s test scores are up, the school raised its Arizona state rating to just shy of an A, Hansen says, and it has become a school of choice for area families. “Because of this offering, the community has rallied behind us, and students have come here because of the experiences that the Verizon Innovative Learning Lab provides them,” Hansen says.

In 2023, Mohave Valley also won the prestigious Golden Bell Award, in the elementary school category. The Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) gives the awards to educators and administrators in districts that achieve excellence through their educational initiatives. Mohave Valley achieved recognition for emerging technology in the classroom and giving students opportunities to learn college and career-ready skills.

While some students take an elective that gives them access to the Verizon Innovative Learning Lab, the entire student body has access to the technology, thanks to mobile tech carts that move from room to room. “The mobile technology allows all students and every subject to have access to that specific technology,” Hansen explains. “So it’s equitable access to all of our students.”

Access to technology, says Hansen, is quickly transforming students into confident young tech leaders. In just two years of the school using 3D modeling software and 3D printing, for example, “we have many experts now within our student population,” the principal says. As a result, many are now considering tech-focused careers, she says.

Ingerson, moreover, sees some of his students quickly outpacing their mentors. “There are instances where we see students becoming the masters of these tools and of this subject matter,” he says. “As teachers, we try to provide the experience for them, but sometimes they grow beyond what even we know.”

Parents, too, have seen how engagement with technology impacts their kids. Ashley Huff says her son, Andrew Ocampo, was amazed by all the lab technology has to offer at Mohave Valley. “He didn’t know something like this could exist,” Huff says.

Now, she says, Andrew is a new student who is more excited about going to school. “I’ve seen changes in Andrew in regard to being more independent in his learning, wanting to take control of his life, and being more creative at home with different objects and different art,” Huff says.

For seventh grader Greg Koczko, “the use of technology and lab classes definitely opened me up to different careers,” he says. Taking part in film classes turned a possible career interest into something more. “My goal was to be a cameraman before going here,” Koczko says. “Having access to all these different things has made me think differently about my career — now I want to be a director.”

But it’s not just their futures that have potential. The access to technology, Hansen says, is impacting her students right here and now. “[Verizon provided] amazing technology that is going to change their lives — that is changing their lives,” she says.

Verizon Innovative Learning is a key part of Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan to help move the world forward for all. As part of the plan, Verizon has an ambitious goal of providing 10 million youth with digital skills training by 2030. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts. Educators can access free lessons, professional development, and immersive learning experiences to help bring new ways of learning into the classroom by visiting Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

Eastman

“We had to find a solution for all of our cardboard,” said Marsha Edwards, senior environmental engineer at Eastman. “With our previous recycling partner closed, finding a baler became a top priority to keep cardboard out of the landfill and stay true to our sustainability commitments.”

Edwards searched everywhere for a Kingsport, Tennessee, partner that could take Eastman’s cardboard and bale it for recycling. The monthly volume of cardboard — up to 120 tons — complicated partnerships with local balers.

The Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. knocked on the company’s door.  Goodwill already partnered with Eastman to recycle textiles, the nonprofit organization also had three cardboard balers. Goodwill approached Eastman with an offer to bale cardboard.

The partnership began in April, when Goodwill processed the inaugural shipment of cardboard. The bales are transported on Goodwill’s sustainability truck for recycling by Domtar, a pulp and paper manufacturer in Kingsport.

“Through this collaboration, we’re also lowering our carbon emissions,” Edwards said. “Working with a local organization that’s only about five miles away from our site requires reduced transportation. This is really a win-win for everyone.”

To support growth of the partnership, Goodwill has purchased a fourth baler to handle larger boxes. Goodwill hired two additional employees to manage baler operations, which aligns with mission to provide employment to those in need.

“What truly makes this moment special for me is the promise of job opportunities it brings,” said Morris Baker, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Tenneva. “This partnership and its achievements aren’t just about cardboard recycling. It’s about creating pathways to success and making a tangible difference in people’s lives. We see that in the success of Goodwill employees and the benefit this three-company partnership has on our community’s sustainability.”

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found everywhere in our environment. Some of them are a pressing environmental and public health concern, impacting drinking water supplies, ecosystems and communities globally.

Whether in water, soil, waste or solids, these compounds pose significant challenges, from widespread contamination to complex treatment requirements and disposal considerations — all in the context of evolving regulations.

As a world-class provider of technology, projects, products and services and a leader in environmental services, we’re working toward a future where concerns about PFAS management are a thing of the past.

We have decades of experience implementing and operating technologies that are scientifically proven and tailored to each project. We will provide solutions to maximize your efficiency in water and waste management, while complying with emerging PFAS regulations and treatment requirements.

BeyondPFAS, our suite of end-to-end PFAS management solutions, is designed to support you at every step, from sampling and analysis to responsible disposal of contaminants.

Our holistic approach involves initial site assessment and sampling, followed by implementing tailored treatment technologies based on your needs. We are committed to safely handling and disposing contaminates in line with EPA-recommended methods, including incineration, deep well injection and approved landfill.

We also help our clients navigate the EPA’s strategic guidelines and support the access of more than $10 billion in dedicated government funding.

We leverage external funding opportunities, explore investment opportunities and develop tailored financing models to minimize upfront capital requirements and align with municipalities’ budgets. We’ve been proactively addressing the issue since 2018, providing municipalities access to valuable insights and support.

At Veolia, we empower cities and businesses to create positive ecological transformation. We are committed to protecting our communities, safeguarding the natural environment and helping our customers feel confident that what lies beyond today is a safer, cleaner future.

What is BeyondPFAS? Peace of Mind.

Every October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, AEG’s German ice hockey champions, Eisbären Berlin, trade their usual team colors for a bold and meaningful hue: pink—as part of their annual “Pink in the Rink” campaign. The initiative has become a staple of the club’s charity efforts, blending the passion of sports with a powerful cause—raising awareness and funds in the fight against cancer.

Since the launch of the campaign over a decade ago, the Eisbären has raised over $260,000 for cancer research. In addition to wearing customized pink jerseys and gloves at every home game, the club also organized charity drives and auctions with all proceeds benefiting Berlin-based organizations that support cancer patients, survivors, and their families. This year’s donation recipients included Kinderlächeln e. V., Berliner Krebsgesellschaft e. V., Deutsche Stiftung für junge Erwachsene mit Krebs, Leben nach Krebs e. V. and Home Care Berlin e. V.

The campaign was originally sparked by Stefan Ustorf, a true legend in the club’s history. Ustorf, who had a successful career both in the NHL and with the Eisbären, playing eight seasons and winning five German Championships, introduced the idea of “Pink in the Rink” more than ten years ago when he began playing with a pink stick in honor of his wife who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

To learn more about the Eisbären Berlin and the “Pink in the Rink” campaign, please click here.

ATLANTA, November 12, 2024 /3BL/ – Habitat for Humanity International announced today that Whirlpool Foundation has renewed its support for the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program. Over the next two years, the Foundation will allocate $2.5M to help the global housing nonprofit construct stronger, more energy-efficient homes that are responsive to changing climate conditions and increasing climate hazards. In the next evolution of the program, 50 net-zero-energy-ready homes will be built bringing energy efficiency and cost savings to homeowners.

The BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, launched by Habitat for Humanity and Whirlpool Corporation in June 2021, started as a three-phase initiative expanding upon Habitat’s current efforts to help homeowners mitigate the impact of climate change with more energy-efficient and climate resilient homes. The initiative also aims to produce a long-term reduction in operating costs for homeowners through an expected improvement in energy efficiency of up to 45% compared to homes built to current local government code. Dollars saved on water and energy bills can be used to help with the cost of food, medical expenses and other household expenses or as savings for the future.

“We are thrilled to continue our work with Habitat on the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program,” said Pam Klyn, executive vice president for corporate relations and sustainability for Whirlpool Corporation. “We’re learning from the data collected to date and evolving the program to build homes that are even more efficient in the next two years. This project truly demonstrates that creating energy efficient homes isn’t just for the luxury market.”

The first commitment of the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, which launched in 2021 and will be completed later this year, encouraged local Habitat affiliates to build above local code to meet higher energy and resilience standards. It also focused on research and collaboration to establish a more accurate baseline to measure sustainable building standards across the construction industry. By the end of 2024, more than 260 energy efficient and climate resilient homes will be constructed across the U.S., resulting in an average 45 percent predicted energy cost savings per family, as well as a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per home. The second commitment of the initiative will begin in early 2025.

“Whirlpool Corporation has been an instrumental partner in helping us improve and broaden the ways we can help more families achieve housing stability,” said Charlita Stephens-Walker, vice president of corporate partnerships and cause marketing at Habitat for Humanity International. “Through the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, we have been able to build more resilient and energy-efficient homes, helping families reduce their carbon footprint as well as lessen their housing costs. We are proud to continue this work with Whirlpool and we are grateful for their dedication to ensure everyone has a safe and decent place to live.”

For more than 25 years, Habitat for Humanity International and Whirlpool Corporation have worked together to improve and broaden the ways the global housing organization can help more families achieve housing stability. Over the lifetime of the relationship, Whirlpool has given more than $140 million in funding and donated products supporting nearly 200,000 Habitat households in the U.S. and close to 1 million people in more than 50 countries worldwide. The company has also supported other initiatives including Habitat’s global housing forums, the Cost of Home national advocacy campaign, and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with our brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2023, the company reported approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 59,000 employees, and 55 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

We recently hosted an electrifying Careers in Energy Week Expo. Over 200 middle and high school students from New Castle County, including those from Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School, Odessa High School, Appoquinimink High School, Freire Charter Wilmington, Smyrna Middle School, Middletown High School, and William Penn High School, gathered to explore the diverse career opportunities at Delmarva Power.

The students were captivated by a variety of interactive exhibits, including a cutting-edge Virtual Reality Module (VRM), Electric Operations, Gas Operations, and Environmental Management. These hands-on experiences provided invaluable insights into the energy sector and showcased the exciting possibilities within the industry.

As part of the industry-wide Careers in Energy Week initiative, our event aimed to inspire the next generation of energy professionals by highlighting the numerous opportunities in the energy sector. We are proud to have been a part of this initiative and are committed to continuing our support and inspiration for future leaders in the energy industry.

An estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – get sick after eating contaminated food, according to the World Health Organization. To address this concern, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has authority to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested and processed, created a regulatory framework around food safety.

Part of that framework is the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the new section, Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods. This new section identifies high-risk foods to public health and requires additional record-keeping requirements that will help companies quickly identify and remove contaminated food from the market. Businesses must comply with this new section by January 20, 2026.

These expanded compliance and traceability requirements significantly increase the volume and complexity of data to manage—requiring the capture and maintenance of specific Key Data Elements at Critical Tracking Events.

The challenge for many companies: these data elements often reside in separate, non-interoperable systems and entities, spanning records from production, handling, and shipment of finished goods.

The solution requires verifying that every ingredient can be tracked from its origin to the finished product through sufficiently unique Traceability Lot Codes. The ability to ‘connect the dots’ can enhance compliance and operational efficiency, boost consumer confidence, and protect public health.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) Plex and FactoryTalk® solutions, combined with Kezzler’s digital ID solutions, enable producers to elevate processing and factory data captured within the four walls of the plant into a single-source query product genealogy.

By connecting this information to the overall supply chain, this technology collaboration from Rockwell and Kezzler means companies can track food from start to finish, monitor critical control points in real time, automate collection and visualization of data trends, and protect products against counterfeits and supply chain changes. It will ultimately help them respond faster to contaminated food risks and protect consumers from foodborne illness and even death.

Learn more.

In this second episode on EHS audits, we discuss the EMEA region and the U.S. We hear from experts Lauren Corbett-Noon, Senior Consultant, Antea Group, Robert Szucs-Winkler, CEO and founder of denxpert, and Dr. Roland Langmoen, Senior Consultant and Partner at Baden Consulting. The group explores the opportunity provided by audits and the role of auditors as helpers and educators.

Listen Now:

– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/helpers-and-educators-ehs-audits-in-emea-and-the-u-s/id1741016993?i=1000676625252

– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2z2XQ2t9hSD7M9U4VHsQSE

Southern Company

Southern Company is constantly evaluating new technologies and collaborating with emerging clean tech companies, both to benefit customers and to modernize our business. One such collaboration is the recent engagement with Scythe Robotics for the deployment of their company’s commercial-grade, all-electric semi-autonomous mowers at Plants Bowen, Wansley, Yates, Wilson, McManus and Mitchell.

The Scythe mowers are emissions-free and designed to maintain high productivity and improved quality of cut while enhancing worker safety. With zero emissions, the robotic mowers have the potential to offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for the maintenance of plant grounds.

The 20-horsepower machines feature eight cameras and a suite of sensors that enable them to operate safely in environments that could include the occasional presence of humans or animals in addition to existing trees and shrubs. The mowers stop for people and animals and automatically mow around trees and other obstacles. They also sense grass thickness and adjust mowing speed as needed.

The robots have worked flawlessly with existing level 2 chargers for speedy charging. The state-of-the-art mowers also capture property and mower performance data that can potentially be leveraged to improve workflow, schedule for efficiency, and to more effectively manage the labor costs of our landscaping contractors.

Colorado-based Scythe Robotics is a portfolio company of Energy Impact Partners (EIP.) Founded in 2015 by Southern Company and other utilities, EIP is the largest utility-backed clean tech investor coalition in the world with over $4.5 billion in assets under management across a platform of diversified strategies. Southern Company is an investor in several funds across the platform.

Southern Company’s engagement with EIP is instrumental in helping us keep a finger on the pulse of the clean tech ecosystem and advance innovative solutions for the benefit of customers as well as our own operations.