Tag: 3BL

December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Bath & Body Works announces its inclusion on Newsweek’s ranking of America’s Most Responsible Companies. This is the second year in a row the brand has made this important list which recognizes companies that prioritize responsible business practices.

Now in its sixth year, America’s Most Responsible Companies 2025 ranking focuses on a holistic view of corporate responsibility that considers the three pillars of ESG: Environment, Social and Corporate Governance. The ranking is based on the responses of 26,000 residents in the United States who were surveyed to evaluate the corporate social responsibility reputation of public companies.

As a global leader in home fragrance and personal care, reaching approximately 40% of U.S. households, Bath & Body Works is proud of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and the well-being of all.

“ESG continues to be a priority for our business as we work to shape a future that’s resilient, responsible and filled with possibilities,” says Jeff King, Group Vice President, Head of ESG at Bath & Body Works. “We’re honored to receive this recognition that celebrates our continued dedication to taking care of the things that matter most.”

This year, Bath & Body Works made significant strides in delivering meaningful impact for its people, local communities and the planet. Most recently, the brand partnered with The Nature Conservancy and other companies on a $1.2 million water protection project in Central Ohio.

Additionally, Bath & Body Works partners with the global nonprofit Good360 to donate out-of-stock products (products unable to be sold to customer, e.g., end of season products) to nonprofit organizations including shelters, food banks, disaster recovery, and more—reducing the brand’s environmental impact while simultaneously creating positive social impact in its local communities. Bath & Body Works also won an ESG Report of the Year award for its second annual 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance report from the ESG & Sustainability Awards.

To learn more about Bath & Body Works’ ESG journey visit bbwinc.com.

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS

Home of America’s Favorite Fragrances®, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company’s predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,880 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 500 international franchised locations to an online storefront at BathandBodyWorks.com.

Authored by Thomas M. Puch, Nasir Mahmood, Jessica Drexler

Many organizations are now considering how to harness the potential of AI to drive business transformation and improve operational efficiency. A strategic approach to implementing artificial intelligence (AI) can help companies move from exploratory discussions to impactful solutions.

One promising approach lies in automated decision-making, where companies use AI to drive business value creation. Implementing an automated decision-making application starts with identifying specific business workflows or use cases, identifying upstream dependencies and decomposing decisions down to their atomic level. This initial analysis serves as the scaffolding to identify where appropriate AI, machine learning, statistical or automation technologies can be used.

Workflows involving high-volume decisions or unstructured data such as contracts, invoices, memos, monthly statements, repair notes or legacy operational reports are ideal candidates for automation. Companies often apply these solutions to workflows like reconciliation processes, audits, compliance reviews, revenue recognition and fraud screening/integrity validation.

Starting with AI in automated decision-making often involves the following considerations:

Process identification: Determining which specific processes or functions are suitable for automation.Business value and impact: Defining ways to evaluate and measure the solution to ensure it delivers clear benefits.Team composition: Selecting the right team to ensure successful implementation.Technical feasibility: Ensuring the solution meets technical requirements, including data security and integration.Data readiness/data governance: Confirming that sufficient, accurate and reliable data is available.Data management: Identifying opportunities to centralize data.

To maximize the value of your AI solution, prioritize these four key elements:

1. Team composition

Assembling a cross-functional team is key for a successful AI project. The team needs an executive sponsor to lead the initiative, define its goals and allocate necessary resources. The team should also include individuals who have the “know how,” which is the knowledge and skills to describe both a broad understanding of the process and deep knowledge of specific decisions.

These individuals also need to be able to explain quality standards and the evaluation mechanisms. This might include a manager who can outline the overall workflow, as well as subject matter experts who understand the finer details of specific functional areas.

Additionally, technical individuals fluent in system design, AI and machine learning, source system data sources and change management are essential. By bringing together individuals with diverse skills and knowledge, the team will be well-prepared to deliver an effective AI solution.

2. Decision management

Decision management is a framework that, when used properly, significantly increases the likelihood of achieving tangible business outcomes with AI. In fact, if Benjamin Franklin were alive today, he might have said, “An ounce of decision management is worth a hundred pounds of cure.”

Decision management is a methodology that, when used correctly, significantly increases the likelihood of your AI solution delivering tangible business value. For those interested in exploring this topic further, James Taylor’s Digital Decisioning: Using Decision Management to Deliver Business Impact from AI [1] offers deeper insights.

Decision management methodology

The first step in using decision management involves collaboratively mapping out the current or ideal logical process flow. This should be done with input from business users who understand the end-to-end workflow, as well as team members familiar with specific steps.

From here, the team should iteratively review the initial logical flow and decompose each decision to its atomic level. This step requires time and care to uncover ‘hidden’ decisions embedded within the process but not immediately visible. Identifying decisions at the atomic level is essential for ensuring explainability, transparency and measuring data bias.

Next, the team should identify internal and external information sources. These will likely include structured and unstructured data, along with any upstream analytical insights that inform decision-making. It is helpful to involve individuals who can explain the decision-making process and its evaluation from a non-technical, business perspective to ensure a complete understanding.

For each decision, consider factors such as frequency, volume and the required time horizon once all data is available. Define valid responses, acceptable response ranges and the characteristics of a “good” response. This assessment should also assess the value of both “good” and “bad” decisions, along with the time to value (TTV) –the duration it takes to realize the decision’s value. Short TTV decisions allow for quicker feedback, whereas longer TTV decisions often take weeks or even months to evaluate.

The outputs of decision management include a diagram map and a decision inventory document. The diagram map visually breaks down all decisions made in the process, highlighting dependencies such as information sources, know-how and upstream analytics. Meanwhile, the decision inventory lists each decision’s frequency, key performance indicator (KPI), volume, time horizon and acceptable responses.

3. Data management

During exploratory data assessments, it’s common to encounter gaps and limitations in both internal and external datasets. Nearly all organizations face similar challenges, the key is to devise strategies to address these gaps.

Many business leaders may not be aware of the role of AI and machine learning can play a significant role in bridging these gaps by standardizing, imputing, inferring, and classifying data to enhance data quality for subsequent AI initiatives. As a recent Gartner presentation [2] suggests, “Not having AI-ready data is no longer a ‘showstopper.'” AI and machine learning should be an integral part of preparing data for AI initiatives.

Data management for AI ready data

Implementing automated decision-making applications requires establishing shared data stores to organize and secure data with proper security classifications and access controls. These shared data stores will help safeguard sensitive information while facilitating authorized data access.

Ongoing monitoring for data drift and data bias is essential to ensure the fairness and reliability of the AI solution. Tracking changes in the statistical properties of input data and responses over time ensures that applications are accurate and reliable.

4. Organizational readiness

Integrating organizational change management (OCM) is essential for successfully adopting and embedding AI solutions. Identifying training gaps and upskilling opportunities is a crucial step to maximize ROI. Without adequate preparation, new technologies fail to deliver expected results because the workforce may default to familiar methods, limiting the impact of new tools. Providing the necessary training and support empowers the team to fully leverage the technology and tools effectively, driving meaningful and lasting transformation.

The next crucial step is ensuring that OCM proactively addresses organizational readiness and engages stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the new AI solution. This includes assessing readiness for change, resource capacity, developing communication and mitigating potential risks and barriers to utilization and adoption.

Early understanding of people-related impacts resulting from processes and technology decisions will enable the organization to properly prepare users for the changes ahead, building the commitment and desire needed to maximize the benefits of AI and minimize resistance, ultimately driving business value and long-term success.

Reaching the go-live stage is just one component of the journey. Beyond supporting the transition to an automated decision-making application, organizational readiness can further work to instill ownership and accountability for the successful sustainment of the transformation. By beginning with the end in mind, leaders can build a culture where people are enabled to support the organization’s goals and drive growth through the application of AI within its business systems and operating models.

How we can help

Baker Tilly’s approach focuses on identifying high impact use cases and aligning AI initiatives with your strategic goals. By focusing on actual business decision-making, we can help your organization streamline processes, enhance accuracy and accelerate realizing business value from AI.

Ready to take the next step? Contact a Baker Tilly specialist to schedule an AI discovery workshop.

PORTLAND, Ore., December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Portland Housing Center (PHC) has received a $300,000 grant from KeyBank to expand homeownership opportunities for historically marginalized communities.

PHC aims to make home ownership possible through quality education, counseling and financial services. Its mission has evolved as the market has, and to sustain responsiveness to emergent community needs and housing market trends, PHC remains agile—creating services and products that fit customer needs, including down payment assistance with matched savings, deferred/forgivable loans, second mortgages and referrals to vetted lending partners and realtors.

This specific grant will expand outreach and support to Spanish-speaking clients to increase rates of homeownership among Hispanic/Latinx communities. By addressing the systemic barriers these populations face, this initiative aims to provide culturally relevant financial education and guidance tailored to their unique needs. Direct beneficiaries are Spanish-speaking individuals and families, particularly low-to-moderate income households within the Hispanic/Latinx community who face historical and systemic barriers to homeownership. In addition to significantly increasing homeownership rates among Spanish-speaking households, this will contribute to the broader community’s economic and social well-being, reducing the racial wealth gap and advancing equity in housing access.

“PHC knows that homeownership is vital to the health and well-being of families, and its efforts to support underserved populations squarely addresses KeyBank’s funding priorities,” says Josh Lyons, president of KeyBank in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “KeyBank has long been an avid champion of PHC’s proven model, and we are delighted to accelerate our support with this new grant.”

“We are deeply grateful for KeyBank’s generous support,” said Dana Shephard, Executive Director of Portland Housing Center. “This $300,000 grant will help us expand our outreach to Spanish-speaking individuals and families. By providing culturally relevant financial education and personalized guidance, we can help overcome systemic barriers to homeownership faced by the Hispanic/Latinx community. Together with KeyBank, we’re making strides toward equitable housing access and helping more people achieve the dream of owning a home.”

About Portland Housing Center

Portland Housing Center (PHC) is a nonprofit one-stop-shop homeownership center specializing in accessible and culturally responsive home-buying education and financial services to prepare first-time home buyers to become long-term homeowners. Founded in 1991, Portland Housing Center opened its doors as a call to action in response to declining homeownership rates in Northeast Portland caused by redlining and other discriminatory housing policies practiced by banks and mortgage lenders. PHC quickly identified a need for a community-driven, accessible, ‘housing information clearinghouse’ for renters and hopeful first-time homebuyers—especially populations disenfranchised by past discriminatory housing policies.

About KeyCorp 

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $190 billion at September 30, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

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CONTACT: 

Portland Housing Center | Tai Love | 469-212-2727 | TaiLove@portlandhousingcenter.org 

KeyBank | Laura Suter | 206-343-6953 | laura_suter@keybank.com

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Measuring impact is one thing—optimizing it is another. Platinum, 3BL’s premier solution, empowers organizations to transform their sustainability data into actionable insights that drive measurable results. With advanced analytics, stakeholder perception tools, and expert support, Platinum enables companies to refine their strategies, enhance engagement, and amplify their impact narrative like never before.

Platinum’s advanced analytics suite equips companies with the tools they need to navigate the complexity of today’s sustainability landscape—where evolving stakeholder expectations, competitive pressures, and audience demands intersect.

Key Features of Platinum Include:

Sustainability Disclosure Score: Quarterly reports provide actionable insights into how ratings and rankings agencies evaluate your sustainability commitments, drawing from over 1,000 sources.Stakeholder Perception Survey Report: An exclusive, annual review of how consumers and key stakeholders perceive your brand’s sustainability efforts.TriplePundit Editorial Blueprint: Expert analysis from veteran editors to enhance your messaging and boost audience engagement.

Platinum offers tools to measure impact and refine strategies with real-time data and actionable reports, along with more audience engagement metrics, content performance tracking, and distribution insights.

Want to see Platinum in action? Learn more here. 

About 3BL 
3BL is the leading sustainability and social impact communications partner, connecting organizations’ stories of purpose and progress with the audiences who matter most.

We partner with over 1,500 companies – from global corporations and mid-sized enterprises to NGOs and nonprofits – to elevate their reputations as players in the world of responsible business. We do this through unrivaled news and content distribution, bespoke storytelling support, and our digital media division, TriplePundit.

Explore more at www.3bl.com

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Venture Forward Research Initiative

Small and microbusinesses boomed in 2024, expanding their reach and impact. Agile entrepreneurs harnessed cutting-edge tech to seize opportunities, fueling growth and innovation. These nimble ventures now fuel local economies. They create jobs and strengthen communities. Their resilience and adaptability are changing the business world. They are forging connections and shaping a new economy. This groundswell of entrepreneurial spirit promises a more vibrant, interconnected marketplace for all.

Read the Full Report

Below is an executive summary of key findings and excerpts from the GoDaddy Venture Forward annual report, including an interactive map with microbusiness data points over time on digital businesses with typically fewer than 10 employees. We invite you to explore and download the full report for extended insights and an exclusive dive into what’s happening with online entrepreneurs in 2024.Report Sections

Snapshot of Microbusinesses 2024Key Entrepreneur Insights

Microbusinesses are growing

In 2024, microbusinesses are thriving from busy U.S. cities to remote U.K. communities. By adopting digital technology and AI, these small entrepreneurs surpass larger companies. Their hard work is driving post-pandemic recovery in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Innovative solutions and cutting-edge tools empower small players to set new industry standards. As markets evolve quickly, these agile firms lead the charge. Each bold move reshapes global commerce.

Ranking states by the growth in the number of their microbusinesses over the last year points to other interesting trends. While the largest states, known for their technology hubs, like New York, California, and Florida, show up in the top ten, a lot of movement and momentum is found in states of various sizes and around the country – from Delaware and Oklahoma to Washington.

Top 10 States By Microbusiness Count Growth1

State

1 year Microbusiness

Count % Growth

5 year 
Microbusiness

Count % Growth

Active Microbusinesses

July/Aug ’24

Microbusiness 
Density

July/Aug ’24

Delaware65%359%381,54338.4Montana45%61%83,1327.6Nevada36%44%601,05819.4Washington31%50%720,8369.4Colorado24%30%598,24910.4New York21%29%1,832,2989.2California14%19%4,026,19710.2Florida14%32%2,471,41211.4Oklahoma14%57%289,6667.3Wyoming14%212%112,42119.5

Every type of community saw double-digit growth in microbusiness growth over the last 5 years.

 Microbusiness Density1

Counties

1 year Active

Count % Growth

5 year Active

Count % Growth

Microbusiness Density* 
July/Aug ‘24% of all countiesRural 
Less than 70 ppl. square mile8%24%2.763%Suburban 
70-250 ppl. / square mile7%19%3.522%Urban 
More than 250 ppl. / square mile22%25%7.615%*Microbusiness Density is defined as the number of microbusinesses per 100 people

Every year, the GoDaddy Venture Forward report shares annual changes in e-commerce activity in terms of revenue, number of orders, or number of sellers by industry, as self-reported by the website owner. These insights underscore interesting trends, such as the peak of wedding-related services post-pandemic, and then a continual decrease since then.

Year-Over-Year Average Revenue Change by Industry2
(Q3 2023 – Q3 2024)

Top 5 Industries (by % Gain)Bottom 5 Industries (by % Loss)IndustryY/Y ChangeIndustryY/Y ChangeFinancial142%Writing-77%Marketing42%Personal Services-50%Software/IT29%Business-50%Religion24%Food and Drink-45%Home Services14%Wedding-23%

Microbusinesses make major economic impact

In 2021, we first revealed the outsized economic impact made by microbusinesses.

Together with economists and academic researchers, we uncovered that they drove up jobs and annual household median incomes, and drove down unemployment. Specifically, the job impact has grown from two or more jobs created for every microbusiness in 2020, to over seven jobs for every microbusiness entrepreneur on a county-level.

7+: Over seven new jobs are created by each microbusiness entrepreneur on a county-evel. In 2021, each microubusiness created just over two jobs.3

Key Entrepreneur Insights

Since 2019, GoDaddy Venture Forward has surveyed over 50,000 microbusiness owners with a GoDaddy domain and active website. Across Australia, Canada, U.K. and the U.S., most of these businesses have fewer than 10 employees, with a large portion being solo entrepreneurs. Despite their size, they are agile and resilient, consistently adopting digital solutions to adapt to changing economic conditions.

Microbusinesses are thriving, fueled by a blend of resilience and the innovative power of AI. Despite economic fluctuations, entrepreneurs remain optimistic about their ventures, betting on their ability to adapt and succeed in any climate. Regions like the South and Midwest in the U.S. exemplify this growth, with many microbusinesses planning to expand their teams in the coming year. This trend highlights not only the growth potential of digital microbusinesses but also how AI tools empower these small enterprises to innovate, scale, and thrive, even in a challenging economic environment.

The South and Midwest are the most likely to hire additional employees over the next 12 months (28%), while the West is the least likely (20%).41 out of 4 business owners with a negative outlook on the national economy still plan to hire employees in the next 12 months.4Plans to hire by U.S. region align with the growth demonstrated in microbusinesses over the last year.4

Entrepreneurs in the microbusiness sector are driven by a diverse range of motivations—from the desire for autonomy and flexibility to a passion for their hobbies and causes. Digital entrepreneurship enables them to not only make a living but also create a fulfilling life. Their ambitions vary widely: while over one-third prefer to remain solo, one in five aspire to scale their businesses to mid- or enterprise-sized operations. Remarkably, nearly three-quarters of these entrepreneurs are already generating income, with many identifying as serial entrepreneurs; one in three currently manages multiple businesses. This dynamic landscape showcases the resourcefulness and adaptability of microbusinesses, empowered by technology and AI, as they navigate and flourish in today’s economy.

1. Microbusinesses are small4

93% of microbusinesses have fewer than10 employees 55% are solo entrepreneurs 45% have employees

2. Microbusinesses generate income4

31% Main40% Supplemental29% No Income

3. About 1 in 3 currently own more than one business4

Microbusinesses also have the power to close economic and gender gaps. In the last 5 years, women-owned microbusinesses have grown 10% to now being over half of all surveyed entrepreneurs. Almost one-third are the breadwinners contributing more than 51% of their household income, and Black women continue to be the fastest growing demographic of microbusiness owners.

51% Women-Owned; +10% since August 20194About 3 out of 10 women with a microbusiness are the breadwinners in their home. (Breadwinners contribute 51% or more of their household income).413% of U.S. microbusinesses are owned by a Black entrepreneur, and of those, 73% are owned by a Black woman.4

Microbusinesses are showing resilience and optimism. They are growing by adapting to AI technologies in a tough economy. These entrepreneurs face challenges. But, they are not just surviving; they are thriving. They have an unshakeable belief in their ability to shape their futures.

Four in ten business owners who didn’t sell their previous venture at a profit currently support their households. This shows their immense pressure and high stakes. For them, success is vital for family well-being. This need drives their pursuit of growth.

Microbusiness owners are increasingly turning to AI, with more than half now comfortable using it in their operations. This technological shift reflects a broader trend of adaptation and innovation. For 36% of GenAI adopters for their business, the payoff is tangible: increased revenue. AI tools help small businesses work faster, be more efficient, and stay competitive. As challenges grow, tiny businesses tap into AI’s power. This shows that adapting to change brings real benefits in today’s fast-moving market.

AI integration goes beyond a growth strategy – it’s a lifeline for entrepreneurs who refuse to give up. Driven by optimism, they’re using technology to overcome obstacles and build sustainable businesses. By adopting these advancements, microbusinesses are starting a new era of entrepreneurship. This era is defined by innovation, adaptability, and a drive for success for themselves and their families.

4 out of 10 current business owners who previously didn’t sell at a profit are still the breadwinners of their households.4

How confident are you as a user of GenAl for your business?4

55%: CONFIDENT31%: NEUTRAL17%: NOT CONFIDENT

Over the last six months, how has your business’ average monthly revenue changed?4

My revenue increased:

28%: Not Used GenAl36%: Used GenAl

My revenue decreased:

29%: Not Used GenAl24%: Used GenAl

About GoDaddy Venture Forward

A research initiative launched in 2018 that quantifies the growth and economic impact of over 20 million global online microbusinesses, and provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs.

Want More Country-Specific Microbusiness Insights?

Select below to see localized research data, entrepreneur stories and reports on microbusinesses.

AustraliaCanadaUnited KingdomUnited States

1Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward 2019-2024
2Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward 2024
3Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward and U.S. Census
4Source: GoDaddy Venture Forward U.S. National Survey. February 2024 (N-U.S.= 3,565)

This quarterly newsletter showcases how Truist Foundation supports Truist Financial Corporation’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities through strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Click here to sign up to receive the newsletter via email.

Supporting communities impacted by hurricanes

This season’s storms have been devastating for communities, so we’ve donated $2.55M to help build them back up. Quick response and recovery efforts are crucial for those impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms—and our leaders are speaking up.

Truist Foundation President Lynette Bell spoke during the Clinton Global Initiative’s “Corporate Philanthropy and Humanitarian Response” roundtable and SVP, Head of Operations Sara Manning spoke at the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals conference on “ESG & CSR’s Role in Disaster Recovery–Examples of Deciding When, Where, and How to Give.”
Read about our disaster response efforts

Why recovery work matters

Listen to former American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern speak with Lynette Bell about the adversity people experiencing severe weather face. 
Listen now

Applications available now: Inspire Awards

Get ready to submit your solution. Apply for this year’s Inspire Awards.
Get started

Honoring outstanding leadership

Lynette Bell was one of three women leaders who received the UNCF Women Who Lead Award.
Learn more

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming businesses and lives at an unprecedented rate. However, this exponential growth doesn’t come without environmental considerations. Every time you use AI to write an email or ask a chatbot a question, it comes at a cost to the planet—one ton of carbon at a time. What is the carbon footprint of AI and how do we calculate it? Can AI be used to reduce emissions, and do these benefits outweigh the environmental costs? These are all questions to consider when balancing the pros and cons of artificial intelligence on the environment. In this article, we’ll explore the impact of AI on carbon emissions and the climate change crisis.

Understanding the Carbon Footprint of AI

AI’s carbon footprint can be substantial. According to research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, training a single AI model can emit as much carbon as five cars over their lifetimes. The energy-intensive nature of AI operations, particularly in data centers, produces significant carbon emissions.

Before the carbon footprint of AI can be efficiently mitigated, however, the footprint itself must be quantified. This can be done in several different ways including manually, but we recommend using a carbon accounting software—like the Climate Solutions Platform—to simplify the process.

Several key factors contribute to AI’s carbon footprint:

Data Centers: AI relies heavily on data centers, which are notorious for their high energy consumption. Cooling systems, servers, and other hardware components all require massive amounts of power. Large data centers can each have emissions equivalent to tens of thousands of cars or hundreds of thousands of trees cut down each year.Training Models: Training complex AI models often involves running numerous computations for extended periods. This process is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to carbon emissions.Hardware: The specialized hardware used for AI, such as GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) and TPUs (Tensor Processing Units), consumes a lot of energy during both the manufacturing and operational stages. These two types of processing units are central to facilitating AI and machine learning and their use can not be avoided at this time.

How AI Can Lower Carbon Emissions

Despite its large energy requirements, AI also holds significant potential for reducing carbon emissions across various sectors:

Energy Efficiency: AI can optimize energy consumption in homes, offices, buildings and industries by analyzing patterns in electricity usage and adjusting consumption in real time. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates AI can reduce a site’s energy consumption by about 30% or more. Smart grids, for example, use AI to balance energy loads and reduce wastage.Renewable Energy: AI is transforming the renewable energy sector by enhancing the efficiency and reliability of sources like wind and solar power. Predictive analytics can forecast weather patterns to optimize the use of these resources. This enables grid operators to better manage the intermittent nature of renewables, reducing the need for backup energy from fossil fuels.Supply Chain Optimization: AI-driven logistics and supply chain management can significantly reduce carbon emissions by streamlining transportation routes, optimizing delivery schedules, and improving inventory management. Fewer trips, reduced idling times, and smarter route planning all contribute to lowering costs and carbon footprint of goods transportation.Manufacturing and Industrial Processes: AI can improve energy-intensive processes in manufacturing by identifying inefficiencies and suggesting operational improvements. For example, AI-powered sensors and data analytics can monitor machinery performance, detect maintenance needs before they become critical, and reduce energy consumption during peak operational times.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?

A key consideration for any business looking to incorporate AI into its processes, is whether the environmental benefits of using AI outweigh its substantial energy requirements. However, the environmental benefits of AI applications across industries have the potential to significantly offset these costs. For example, AI-driven optimizations in energy grids and supply chains can result in substantial long-term emissions reductions.

AI technologies are already helping companies cut waste, improve resource use, and lower their environmental impact. This in turn is creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the emissions generated during AI training and deployment. When applied at scale, these efficiencies can far exceed the energy costs associated with running AI systems, creating a net-positive impact on global carbon emissions.

Mitigating AI’s Carbon Footprint

While AI offers numerous benefits, it’s crucial to mitigate its environmental impact through sustainable practices. Organizations that rely on AI can consider several strategies to reduce their carbon footprint:

Green Data Centers: Investing in energy-efficient data centers powered by renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the emissions associated with AI operations. Major tech companies like Google and Microsoft have already pledged to run their data centers entirely on renewable energy.Carbon Offsetting: For organizations that cannot fully eliminate the emissions generated by their AI operations, utilizing verifiable carbon offsets offers a practical solution. By investing in solutions that actively and verifiably remove or reduce CO2 from the atmosphere, companies can neutralize their environmental impact. However, it’s important that these offsets meet rigorous standards and will have their promised carbon impact in order to ensure real, measurable results.AI for Climate Action: Another way to balance AI’s footprint is to directly apply AI in climate-focused initiatives. For example, AI can be used to track deforestation, monitor emissions from industrial facilities, and improve carbon capture technologies. By leveraging AI for climate monitoring and carbon mitigation efforts, companies can help accelerate global efforts to fight climate change.

Balancing AI Innovation and Sustainability

AI presents both significant opportunities and notable challenges when it comes to carbon emissions. While its deployment can be energy-intensive, the broader benefits it offers—such as increased energy efficiency, streamlined logistics, and optimized use of renewable energy—present a promising path forward. As AI continues to evolve, organizations must adopt sustainable AI practices to ensure that its environmental benefits outweigh the costs. The potential for AI to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy is immense, but it is crucial that we manage this technology responsibly to minimize its impact on our planet.

As AI continues to shape the future, it’s crucial to make sustainability a priority. Climate Vault empowers organizations to reduce their carbon footprint and offset emissions effectively and verifiably. Contact Climate Vault to learn how our innovative solutions can help your business achieve real, measurable climate impact today.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – In celebration of Wildlife Conservation Day, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and International Paper (IP) are proud to highlight a critical milestone in the conservation of the red-cockaded woodpecker, a species whose resilience symbolizes the success of collaborative conservation. Recently downlisted from “endangered” to “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, this achievement underscores the progress in restoring vital habitats.

Through their Forestland Stewards Partnership, NFWF and IP have supported alongside numerous government agencies, local conservation organizations and landowners to restore thousands of acres of longleaf pine across the U.S. South, a crucial step in providing suitable habitat for red-cockaded woodpecker populations. These efforts have enabled new populations of birds to be established, benefiting the species and strengthening biodiversity across the region.

“By investing in long-term habitat restoration, we’re not only helping to secure a future for the red-cockaded woodpecker but also strengthening the broader ecosystem that supports countless other species,” said Sophie Beckham, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at International Paper. “This Wildlife Conservation Day, we celebrate the resilience of this iconic bird and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable forestry practices that protect wildlife.”

The restoration efforts focus on reestablishing longleaf pine ecosystems, which provide the specific mature, open-canopy environments that red-cockaded woodpeckers require. Alongside benefiting the red-cockaded woodpecker, this project supports a range of other species that rely on the longleaf ecosystem, further strengthening biodiversity.

“The downlisting of the red-cockaded woodpecker represents a remarkable success story for conservation and underscores the importance of partnerships in restoring biodiversity,” said Jay Jensen, southern region director with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “Our collaborative efforts with International Paper and local conservation partners are bringing life back to critical habitats, ensuring that these resilient woodpeckers can thrive for future generations.”

The Forestland Stewards Partnership has helped conserve and enhance vital forestland across the Southeastern United States, safeguarding essential habitats and supporting the recovery of at-risk species. These initiatives align with national conservation goals and demonstrate the transformative power of public-private partnerships in addressing complex environmental challenges.

Learn more about the Forestland Stewards Partnership here: www.nfwf.org/programs/forestland-stewards

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About International Paper 
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America and North Africa. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

Koba @ 100 Barbirolli in Manchester is the world’s first WELL Coworking Rated flexible workspace

International WELL Building Institute and The Instant Group created rating for healthier workspaces

December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Koba, the flexible workspace company creating premium, evidence-based sustainable workplaces, has achieved the world’s first WELL Coworking Rated flexible workspace at Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square in Manchester, responding to growing demand for healthier workspaces.

In April 2024, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority on advancing healthy buildings, organisations and communities, and The Instant Group, the largest global marketplace for flexible workspace, announced a strategic partnership to spur health and well-being practices in coworking and flexible workspaces. This has culminated in the launch of the first-of-its-kind healthy buildings rating for coworking operators.

The Koba team joined a pilot cohort of organisations and worked with IWBI and The Instant Group to help shape a pioneering leadership benchmark designed for coworking and flexible spaces – the WELL Coworking Rating. The collaborative cohort also committed to being the first to enroll in the new rating.

The new rating, derived from the researched-backed health strategies in the WELL Building Standard, includes nearly 50 features spanning all 10 concepts in WELL, including air and water quality, light, thermal comfort, movement and nourishment. The rating serves to validate and showcase how coworking and flexible workspaces meet evidence-based health and well-being measures, whilst also being integrated with The Instant Group’s platform to help occupiers make informed workspace decisions based on health and well-being. Prospective coworking and flexible workspace users will be able to search for the new rating and its associated data as they access more than 350,000 flexible workplaces on Instant’s digital platforms.

Rob Stewart, Director of Strategy and Sustainability at Koba, said: “We are proud to be part of a selected cohort of businesses that has helped to push industry standards forward as this is central to our mission and indeed part of our manifesto commitment to share our lessons and learning with the broader industry.

“For Koba and Manchester to be recognised as the first site and city globally to achieve the rating is just a genuine thrill. And for our residents, both current and future, it’s a sign that we are laser-focused on providing workspaces that are backed by evidence on health, well-being and sustainability. Koba was created before the WELL Coworking Rating was developed, so to receive the rating is true testament not only to our own vision, but the quality of our partners at Cast Interiors too.” continued Stewart.

Koba announced a partnership with AEW in April this year for its inaugural 30,000-sq-ft sustainable flex centre across two floors at 100 Barbirolli Square in central Manchester. Since then the Koba team has worked with leading office fit-out design and build specialists, Cast Interiors, to create evidence-based premium sustainable workspaces designed with a focus on circularity and re-use.

With work now complete, Koba @ 100 Barbirolli Square is fully operational with the dynamic new centre offering a range of meeting rooms, coworking spaces, studios and office suites to accommodate businesses of up to 200 people, with premium amenity, wellness and breakout areas.

Koba’s mission is to redefine flexible workspace by embedding sustainability at the heart of its offering and the company has ambitions to open three to four sites per year in outstanding commercial buildings in the UK’s major cities.

IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon said: “We proudly congratulate Koba for achieving the first WELL Coworking Rated workspace. Koba chose to pursue the rating to help deliver innovative health and productivity benefits to users of its flexible workspace at 100 Barbirolli Square. Its achievement will also inspire other coworking operators in the UK and beyond to provide healthy workplaces that support physical and mental well-being through the use of WELL’s science-backed strategies.”

Sam Pickering, Executive Director, Head of Sustainability at The Instant Group said: “The WELL Coworking rating enables occupiers to easily determine the health and well-being attributes of a specific coworking and flexible office space. Koba is the first workspace provider to achieve the rating globally and it is testament to their understanding and commitment to creating healthier workspaces that sees them achieve this accolade first.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

About Koba

Koba is a dynamic, flexible workspace company creating evidence-based sustainable workplaces across the UK. Designed with sustainability at its core, each Koba workspace is constructed for forward-thinking landlords and occupiers who want to make a positive mark on the planet and its people. Working with integrated delivery partner Cast Interiors and sustainability leader Drees & Sommer, Koba has created a manifesto for creating incredible workspaces across the UK and strives to back this up with tangible evidence every step of the way. www.kobaspace.com

About the International WELL Building Institute

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. IWBI is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative, and helps companies advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the use of WELL. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

About The Instant Group

The Instant Group has been rethinking workspace since 1999 with over 500 experts working globally across more than 175 countries. Instant’s digital platforms constitute the world’s largest digital marketplace for flexible workspace listing meeting rooms, virtual offices, flexible office space and coworking memberships. Its global team advises on commercial real estate solutions from serviced offices to fully customised managed offices, and consulting services for portfolio and net zero strategies. Instant’s approach enables agility, hybrid working solutions and improved operational resilience for more than 250,000 businesses every year. Clients include Amex, Prudential, Booking.com, Shell, Jaguar Land Rover and Worldpay. Instant has global offices including London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney.

For media enquiries please contact:

Faye Binns at Space PR on 07793 401 579 or via email at faye@spacepr.co.uk

Kate Johnson at Space PR on 07815 314 108 or via email at kate@spacepr.co.uk

Andrea McKenzie at Space PR on 07714 988 989 or via email at andrea@spacepr.co.uk

FTI Consulting, The Instant Group: instantgroup@fticonsulting.com

IWBI: media@wellcertified.com

December 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Five Georgia nonprofit climate justice initiatives have been awarded a total of $1 million in funding for programs that advance climate solutions and prioritize equity based on the framework of Drawdown Georgia’s climate solutions. This year marks the third cohort of grant recipients; to date, a total of $3.2 million has been awarded to projects that are scaling climate solutions with an emphasis on equity across the state.

“All of us are impacted by climate change–but that doesn’t mean we all experience those impacts equally,” said John Lanier, executive director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, one of six family foundations who are funding the 2025-26 grants. “The funding partners behind the Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grants seek to help nonprofits across the state achieve this ultimate goal.”

Additional funders include The Ghanta Family Foundation, The Reilly Family Fund, The Tull Charitable Foundation, The Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, and one anonymous donor.

Launched in 2022, the Climate Solutions & Equity Grants empower BIPOC communities across Georgia to grow partnerships and programs that bring those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate to the table to lead, and benefit from, outcomes like new jobs, neighborhood investments, environmental benefits, and improved public health. The focus of the Climate Solutions & Equity Grants is on advancing specific climate solutions, including: Climate-Smart Agriculture, Energy Efficiency, Plant-Based Diets, Rooftop Solar, and Tree Planting.

Announcing the 2025-2026 Climate Solutions and Equity Grantees 

After reviewing almost 100 submissions, Drawdown Georgia announces that five, two-year grants of $100,000 per year will be awarded to fund the following projects from 2025-2026:

Georgia Organics and McIntosh S.E.E.D. Growing Climate-Smart Agriculture 

Georgia Organics (GO) and McIntosh Sustainable, Environmental and Economic Development (McIntosh S.E.E.D.) were part of the first Climate Solutions & Equity Grant cohort in 2023-24. This year’s grant extends the Climate Smart Farmer Cohort to at least 15 additional farmers within a 30–60-mile radius of Coastal Georgia, a continuation of the pilot project to prepare and support Black farmers in Coastal Georgia with adaptation and mitigation tools to build resilience and maintain productivity in the face of climate change.

Georgia WAND Education Fund Scaling Energy Efficiency for Seniors 

Georgia WAND Education Fund and two of their existing partners, Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluff Community and BeSMART Home Solutions, will work to extend energy assistance services to residents in rural Burke County, Georgia. These residents are some of the state’s most vulnerable populations, with a high percentage of senior citizens living in aging housing stock.

In the first year, the grant partners will introduce weatherization programs, educate residents on the economic and social benefits of energy-efficient retrofits, identify target neighborhoods, and conduct comprehensive energy audits.

Harambee House Building Food Sovereignty with Climate-Smart Agriculture 

The Harambee House Community Farm Project will put grant funds to work expanding existing community gardens in the Woodville and Hudson Hill communities in West Savannah. Gardens will be paired with small local farms to increase capacity and provide the support necessary to distribute nutritionally dense produce throughout historically underserved communities. The preparation, cultivation, processing, and distribution of all produce will be done within the guidelines of regenerative, climate-smart agricultural practices to achieve the overall goal of nutritionally rich and healthy food sovereignty.

Thomasville Community Development Corporation Improving Health for Seniors

Grant funds will be used to scale existing work in the historic Dewey City neighborhood in Southwest Georgia focused on decreasing the energy cost burdens for residents in 52 senior apartments while improving the health outcomes of hundreds in the surrounding community, which is currently designated as a “food desert.” Thomasville Community Development Corporation (TCDC) will work with the owner of Marathon Market, a nearby Black-owned food market, to implement a neighborhood plant-based food program. TCDC seeks to subsidize produce boxes, prepared meals, and plant-based education programs for neighborhood residents, sourcing the produce from local Black farmers.

Green Team of English Avenue Addressing Energy Burdens (h3)

The Westside Passive Cooling Tree Equity Partnership and Project will establish a community-driven model to address the impact of tree removal on the energy efficiency of residential buildings within the Westside Lead Superfund Site in Atlanta. The Green Team of English Avenue is partnering with the Climate Consortium of the Commons and Carinalis Consulting to assess the impact of trees removed within the Site on residential energy efficiency and thermal comfort of residents. The ultimate goal is to develop a replicable, scalable model that can be applied to additional homes in English Avenue, and in other Superfund sites within Georgia, and beyond.

About Drawdown Georgia

Drawdown Georgia is a statewide research-based initiative launched in 2020 that was born from a multi-university collaboration, funded by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Taking inspiration from Project Drawdown®, the world’s leading resource for taking action on climate change, Drawdown Georgia localized that work by identifying the 20 highest-impact solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our state over the next decade.

This framework focuses on climate solutions in five sectors: transportation, buildings & materials, food & agriculture, electricity, and land sinks. It considers how these solutions can reduce emissions and advance “beyond carbon” priorities, including equity, economic development, public health, and nurturing the larger environment.

Drawdown Georgia has grown into a “leader-full” movement, bringing together many organizations, universities, companies, leaders, and funders who are working to advance climate solutions in Georgia, including members of the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, Drawdown Georgia Congregations, and Drawdown Georgia Higher Education. Learn more at drawdownga.org