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Abbott

This year’s hurricane season has brought some significant, unexpected impacts — including previously unseen devastation to the mountain regions of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee by Hurricane Helene, and back-to-back major hurricanes hitting the west coast of Florida with Helene and now Hurricane Milton.

To help affected families and communities, Abbott and Abbott Fund are working with our longstanding disaster relief partner organizations, including Feeding America, Direct Relief, Americares and World Central Kitchen, to deliver aid where it’s needed most — reaching communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Advance Prep Provides a ‘First Wave’ of Aid

This work started well before hurricane season, through our longstanding partnerships with Feeding America and Direct Relief to help communities prepare in advance. Together with Feeding America and with support from Abbott volunteers, we provide food banks with “disaster relief packs” stocked with our donated nutrition products. Similar relief packs stocked with medical products are provided by Direct Relief to health clinics in areas at high risk of hurricanes.

We also provided grants to help food banks and health clinics purchase generators and supplies to strengthen their capabilities and resiliency. Direct Relief recently shared perspective on how partnerships like this are helping health clinics to better respond to extreme weather events.

When Hurricane Helene hit, food banks and health clinics were able to quickly distribute a “first wave” of relief to affected communities, providing the targeted nutrition and healthcare products people need.

Additional Donations Help Meet Significant Needs

Building on these proactive programs, we’ve made additional donations to help meet needs on the ground due to widespread devastation from Hurricane Helene. This includes Ensure, PediaSure, and Glucerna nutrition drinks, Pedialyte rehydration solutions, Similac infant formula and diabetes care products.

Now, we’re providing expanded support for relief efforts in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. This includes grants from Abbott Fund to help organizations on the ground to meet basic needs for food, water, hygiene, first aid and medical care, and additional donations of nutrition products, including Similac infant formula.

We’ll continue to closely monitor, assess and respond to ongoing needs, working across our businesses and with our relief organization partners in the days and weeks ahead.

How You Can Help

To help communities affected by hurricanes in the Southeast U.S., here are links to key organizations and additional information:

AmericaresDirect ReliefFeeding AmericaWorld Central Kitchen

Through our passion for innovative materials science, and collaboration with partners, we can unlock the value in plastic waste and improving the circularity of our products.

I’ve had a passion for both science and nature from an early age. As a North America Circularity Technology Leader for Dow, I am melding my passions by using advanced materials and technology to develop sustainable packaging solutions that are circular and use fewer resources.

While plastics are crucial to everyday life and a low-carbon future, plastic pollution has no place in the environment. At Dow, we have set ambitious targets to reduce plastic waste and retain its value in a circular economy. Our goal is to transform plastic waste and other forms of alternative feedstock to deliver 3 million metric tons per year of circular and renewable solutions annually by 2030.

One way that we are capturing the value of plastic waste is with our REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastic Resins.

Unlocking the value in plastic waste

A global line of mechanically recycled plastic resins, REVOLOOP™ is Dow’s first post-consumer recycled (PCR) product to incorporate up to 100% recycled content. This growing portfolio of PCR resins is providing customers with high-performance products that also help meet their circularity and low-carbon targets. In addition, the single-pellet solution enables a simpler PCR process integration, meeting the needs of converters, brand owners and packaging designers, and can be used in a broad range of applications.

PCR solutions present an opportunity to help close the loopopens in a new tab on plastic waste while leveraging the sustainability benefits of plastic packaging. By incorporating PCR resins into a product, we can help reduce its footprint during production by decreasing energy output and greenhouse gases. Additionally, for typical packaging applications, the equivalent plastic solution weighs significantly less than the alternatives, reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain.

Partnering for progress

With our REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastic Resins, we are collaborating with partners around the world to ensure PCR plastic is managed like the valuable resource that it is.

This includes investing in technologies to support mechanical recycling on a larger scale, enhancing waste management infrastructure, and collaborating with brands and manufacturers to design for circularity. Our partnerships encompass the entire value chain, collaborating with specialized organizations to contribute on the professionalization process of waste picker cooperatives in Brazil and Africa to developing PCR packaging applications with flexible film manufacturers in China, India and Germany.

Plastics are an indispensable part of a low-carbon future – they make cars lighter and more fuel efficient, homes more energy efficient and reduce food waste. At the same time, we need a new approach to the traditional “take-make-dispose” model. Through our passion for innovative materials science, and collaboration with partners, we can unlock the value in plastic waste and improving the circularity of our products.

About the author

Jessica Rogers is the North America Circularity Technology Leader in the Technical Service & Development (TS&D) organization of Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics (P&SP) business. In this role, she is responsible for the development and execution of Dow’s post-consumer recycled (PCR) product growth plans and shaping the strategy for circular product proliferation for the North American markets. Jessica received her PhD in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and joined Dow in 2015 where she has held various roles across businesses within R&D and TS&D. In her free time, Jessica enjoys pursuing adventures such as skydiving, hiking, backpacking and scuba diving in far-flung places.

Originally published on GoDaddy 

TEMPE, Ariz., October 21, 2024 /3BL/ — With the number of small businesses on the rise, entrepreneurs represent an important voting block as November 5 approaches. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury1, the U.S. registered more than 430,000 small business applications monthly in 2024 – 50% more than in 2019 – so addressing small business owners’ concerns could help candidates differentiate themselves with Election Day less than one month away.

To help advocate for these entrepreneurs, GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) surveyed more than 2,000 small business owners about their top concerns as they head for the polls. The results showed that policies intended to lower inflation, ease tax burdens and the cost of living are top of mind for small business owners this election season.

What matters most to small business voters

Inflation: 93% of survey respondents believe addressing wage and cost inflation should be a top priority for the next administration. Nearly 70% believe that above-average inflation will last for at least another year, and 1 in 3 (34%) cite increases in operating costs as the most significant economic challenge they currently face. Two in three (66%) indicated a desire for greater federal support to small businesses to mitigate rising costs.Tax Policy: 50% rank tax reform as a top policy priority. Just 24% believe current federal tax incentives for small businesses effectively promote growth and investment.Cost of Living: The cost of housing increasing faster than people’s incomes creates a barrier to achieving “The American Dream,” said nearly 1 out of every 3 (32%) respondents. More women (36%) than men (27%) feel this is true.

Owning a small business impacts the way owners vote

For many respondents, being a small business owner impacts how they vote, according to GoDaddy’s survey results. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) of respondents report changing how they vote in federal elections since becoming a business owner.

More broadly, small business owners are evenly split on how the upcoming election will impact their businesses.

Scale of Impact: 51% anticipate the election will have a moderate to major impact, and 49% predict that it will have a minor or no impact.Positive or Negative Impact: 38% believe that federal government leadership will have a positive impact on their business over the next four years, and only 16% anticipate a negative impact, with nearly half (46%) anticipating a neutral impact.

Grit and resilience despite uncertainty

Despite facing economic uncertainty, small business owners are bullish about their future, with 77% reporting that their goal is to grow their business in the next 12 months. At the same time, only 27% of small businesses expect more revenue from their business in the next six months, with 41% expecting no change.

“Small businesses are vital to our communities and economy,” said Jared Sine, GoDaddy chief strategy and legal officer. “It’s important that our elected officials consider small business owners’ concerns as they create policies at the federal, state, and local levels. When small businesses thrive, we all win.”

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online and in person. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place, and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

1 Van Nostrand, E. (2024) Small Business and Entrepreneurship in the Post-COVID Expansion. Available at: https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/small-business-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-post-covid-expansion#:~:text=Entrepreneurship%20continues%20to%20surge%3A%20the,percent%20more%20than%20in%202019. (1 October 2024).

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

Originally published on GoDaddy 

TEMPE, Ariz., October 21, 2024 /3BL/ — With the number of small businesses on the rise, entrepreneurs represent an important voting block as November 5 approaches. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury1, the U.S. registered more than 430,000 small business applications monthly in 2024 – 50% more than in 2019 – so addressing small business owners’ concerns could help candidates differentiate themselves with Election Day less than one month away.

To help advocate for these entrepreneurs, GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) surveyed more than 2,000 small business owners about their top concerns as they head for the polls. The results showed that policies intended to lower inflation, ease tax burdens and the cost of living are top of mind for small business owners this election season.

What matters most to small business voters

Inflation: 93% of survey respondents believe addressing wage and cost inflation should be a top priority for the next administration. Nearly 70% believe that above-average inflation will last for at least another year, and 1 in 3 (34%) cite increases in operating costs as the most significant economic challenge they currently face. Two in three (66%) indicated a desire for greater federal support to small businesses to mitigate rising costs.Tax Policy: 50% rank tax reform as a top policy priority. Just 24% believe current federal tax incentives for small businesses effectively promote growth and investment.Cost of Living: The cost of housing increasing faster than people’s incomes creates a barrier to achieving “The American Dream,” said nearly 1 out of every 3 (32%) respondents. More women (36%) than men (27%) feel this is true.

Owning a small business impacts the way owners vote

For many respondents, being a small business owner impacts how they vote, according to GoDaddy’s survey results. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) of respondents report changing how they vote in federal elections since becoming a business owner.

More broadly, small business owners are evenly split on how the upcoming election will impact their businesses.

Scale of Impact: 51% anticipate the election will have a moderate to major impact, and 49% predict that it will have a minor or no impact.Positive or Negative Impact: 38% believe that federal government leadership will have a positive impact on their business over the next four years, and only 16% anticipate a negative impact, with nearly half (46%) anticipating a neutral impact.

Grit and resilience despite uncertainty

Despite facing economic uncertainty, small business owners are bullish about their future, with 77% reporting that their goal is to grow their business in the next 12 months. At the same time, only 27% of small businesses expect more revenue from their business in the next six months, with 41% expecting no change.

“Small businesses are vital to our communities and economy,” said Jared Sine, GoDaddy chief strategy and legal officer. “It’s important that our elected officials consider small business owners’ concerns as they create policies at the federal, state, and local levels. When small businesses thrive, we all win.”

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online and in person. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place, and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

1 Van Nostrand, E. (2024) Small Business and Entrepreneurship in the Post-COVID Expansion. Available at: https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/small-business-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-post-covid-expansion#:~:text=Entrepreneurship%20continues%20to%20surge%3A%20the,percent%20more%20than%20in%202019. (1 October 2024).

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

This live event will be hosted by Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action, the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, and Georgia Tech’s Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business.

Join healthcare industry leaders, hospital administrators, and clinicians at the Georgia Healthcare Sustainability Forum to address the role of healthcare in reducing carbon emissions and improving sustainability. The forum will focus on strategies for cutting healthcare-related emissions, implementing sustainable practices, and building more environmentally responsible health systems.

We welcome anyone interested in touring the Kendeda Building to join us before lunch at 11am. Please RSVP in advance here: ⁠Kendeda Tour.

We invite you to join us for a networking lunch at noon. Opening remarks will commence at 12:30pm.

Register here.

This live event will be hosted by Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action, the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, and Georgia Tech’s Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business.

Join healthcare industry leaders, hospital administrators, and clinicians at the Georgia Healthcare Sustainability Forum to address the role of healthcare in reducing carbon emissions and improving sustainability. The forum will focus on strategies for cutting healthcare-related emissions, implementing sustainable practices, and building more environmentally responsible health systems.

We welcome anyone interested in touring the Kendeda Building to join us before lunch at 11am. Please RSVP in advance here: ⁠Kendeda Tour.

We invite you to join us for a networking lunch at noon. Opening remarks will commence at 12:30pm.

Register here.

Drawdown Georgia and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light recently hosted a live webinar illustrating ways that Georgia’s congregations are taking action and advancing climate solutions within their own communities of faith.

From installing rooftop solar and improving energy efficiency to installing EV chargers to creating composting and recycling programs, there are so many ways for congregations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help solve for climate.

Watch the recorded webinar here.

Drawdown Georgia and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light recently hosted a live webinar illustrating ways that Georgia’s congregations are taking action and advancing climate solutions within their own communities of faith.

From installing rooftop solar and improving energy efficiency to installing EV chargers to creating composting and recycling programs, there are so many ways for congregations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help solve for climate.

Watch the recorded webinar here.

Financial advisors help develop a plan for someone to ensure they are financially secure as they age. This is done with a diverse portfolio of investments to ensure a stable and reliable source of income over time. The energy grid also requires a diverse portfolio of energy sources to improve network reliability and resilience over time, and renewable energy sources provide that sustainability. Integrating renewables is critical to grid modernization as this shift is reshaping how the world generates, distributes, and consumes electricity.

Grid modernization is focused on transforming the current electrical energy infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond. This change of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. Collaboration between utilities, technology companies, policymakers, and consumers is essential to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by grid modernization. Key to this transition will be the integration of multiple technologies into the energy grid, including renewables.

History of renewables in the power grid

Renewable energy is one of the earliest forms of power production. Windmills and waterwheels have been used for centuries to produce mechanical power as well as food products. However, when the industrial revolution started, steam engines and coal production took over as the primary power sources. The oil crises that spread throughout the late 20th century revived interest in renewable energy, with solar, wind, and hydropower being the primary sources of generation.

The 21st century has seen a dramatic increase in renewable energy source usage, with solar and wind expected to account for 95% of global renewable expansion.1 In fact, renewables are expected to surpass coal to become the largest source of electricity by 2025. This dramatic shift in power sources has major implications on global emissions generation and the energy grid going forward.

Renewables supporting grid modernization

Several renewable energy sources are playing a significant role in enhancing the power grid’s reliability, efficiency, and sustainability, including:

Solar: Solar power involves converting sunlight into electricity using solar panels. This can be done individually at a home or on large solar farms.Wind: Wind power harnesses the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity using wind turbines. This is most commonly achieved on wind farms on large plains, but smaller scale wind generation is possible with new turbine technologies.Hydropower: Hydropower leverages the energy of flowing water to produce electricity using dams. This form of energy generation has been around for centuries, and it remains the largest source of renewable energy generation in many parts of the world.Bioenergy: Bioenergy utilizes organic materials, such as wood, agricultural waste, and algae, to generate fuels that can be used to replace fossil fuels. It has become the largest source of renewable energy globally today, accounting for 55% of renewable energy and over 6% of global energy supply.2Geothermal: Geothermal energy taps into the heat stored in the Earth’s interior to generate electricity or heat. Geothermal heat pumps have become popular options for home residences when replacing furnaces and air conditioners.Tidal and wave: Tidal and wave power harness the natural movement of ocean tides and waves. This is an emerging area of energy research and development, with projects using underwater wave devices and tidal turbines just starting to be implemented.

Each of these sources has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice for a particular region or application depends on multiple factors, including climate, geography, and economic considerations. Some renewables may be limited in their usage based on these factors, but the right energy mix working together makes an impact on grid modernization.

Benefits and challenges of renewables for grid modernization

Using renewables are critical in transforming the traditional power grid into a more energy-efficient and sustainable network. Grid modernization brings numerous benefits to the system and users alike. Utility providers benefit as renewables can produce power continuously— removing reliance on fossil fuels sourced from unstable regions. Renewables decentralize power generation, helping distribute energy more widely to improve energy resilience. This can help reduce the need for new power plant and power grid construction.

Users benefit as renewables generate little-to-no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants, which improves the quality of the air and the environmental impact overall of power generation. Renewables also provide possibilities for investment in new energy job creation and can stimulate economic growth in more regions.

While renewables offer significant benefits for grid modernization, some challenges remain for acceptance and implementation to grow. The initial investment in building renewably-sourced infrastructure can be high, but costs are decreasing as development continues. Energy storage used by renewables is necessary for large-scale operations, which adds additional cost to construction. Some renewable sources, like solar and wind, can be intermittent in their power generation depending on weather conditions, which can make demand planning difficult for utility providers. Also, some renewable sources are dependent on geographical conditions, like flat plains or water sources, which limits their use outside of those regions.

Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the expansion of renewable power sources and the modernization of the power grid. Successful implementation requires developing the right energy mix to ensure a sustainable power supply.

The Road Ahead

The transformation of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. The full potential of renewables for grid modernization can be realized by investing in infrastructure upgrades, developing innovative technologies, and collaboration between industry stakeholders. This will ensure the world can create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy grid for the future. Like a well-balanced investment portfolio, the power grid will have a sustainable supply of energy sources going forward.

Read all blog posts in this series on grid modernization, network communications, and energy storage.

Sources:

1. IEA 2023; Renewables 2023, https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2023, License: CC BY 4.0.
2. IEA 2023; Bioenergy, https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/bioenergy, License: CC BY 4.0.

Financial advisors help develop a plan for someone to ensure they are financially secure as they age. This is done with a diverse portfolio of investments to ensure a stable and reliable source of income over time. The energy grid also requires a diverse portfolio of energy sources to improve network reliability and resilience over time, and renewable energy sources provide that sustainability. Integrating renewables is critical to grid modernization as this shift is reshaping how the world generates, distributes, and consumes electricity.

Grid modernization is focused on transforming the current electrical energy infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond. This change of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. Collaboration between utilities, technology companies, policymakers, and consumers is essential to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by grid modernization. Key to this transition will be the integration of multiple technologies into the energy grid, including renewables.

History of renewables in the power grid

Renewable energy is one of the earliest forms of power production. Windmills and waterwheels have been used for centuries to produce mechanical power as well as food products. However, when the industrial revolution started, steam engines and coal production took over as the primary power sources. The oil crises that spread throughout the late 20th century revived interest in renewable energy, with solar, wind, and hydropower being the primary sources of generation.

The 21st century has seen a dramatic increase in renewable energy source usage, with solar and wind expected to account for 95% of global renewable expansion.1 In fact, renewables are expected to surpass coal to become the largest source of electricity by 2025. This dramatic shift in power sources has major implications on global emissions generation and the energy grid going forward.

Renewables supporting grid modernization

Several renewable energy sources are playing a significant role in enhancing the power grid’s reliability, efficiency, and sustainability, including:

Solar: Solar power involves converting sunlight into electricity using solar panels. This can be done individually at a home or on large solar farms.Wind: Wind power harnesses the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity using wind turbines. This is most commonly achieved on wind farms on large plains, but smaller scale wind generation is possible with new turbine technologies.Hydropower: Hydropower leverages the energy of flowing water to produce electricity using dams. This form of energy generation has been around for centuries, and it remains the largest source of renewable energy generation in many parts of the world.Bioenergy: Bioenergy utilizes organic materials, such as wood, agricultural waste, and algae, to generate fuels that can be used to replace fossil fuels. It has become the largest source of renewable energy globally today, accounting for 55% of renewable energy and over 6% of global energy supply.2Geothermal: Geothermal energy taps into the heat stored in the Earth’s interior to generate electricity or heat. Geothermal heat pumps have become popular options for home residences when replacing furnaces and air conditioners.Tidal and wave: Tidal and wave power harness the natural movement of ocean tides and waves. This is an emerging area of energy research and development, with projects using underwater wave devices and tidal turbines just starting to be implemented.

Each of these sources has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice for a particular region or application depends on multiple factors, including climate, geography, and economic considerations. Some renewables may be limited in their usage based on these factors, but the right energy mix working together makes an impact on grid modernization.

Benefits and challenges of renewables for grid modernization

Using renewables are critical in transforming the traditional power grid into a more energy-efficient and sustainable network. Grid modernization brings numerous benefits to the system and users alike. Utility providers benefit as renewables can produce power continuously— removing reliance on fossil fuels sourced from unstable regions. Renewables decentralize power generation, helping distribute energy more widely to improve energy resilience. This can help reduce the need for new power plant and power grid construction.

Users benefit as renewables generate little-to-no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants, which improves the quality of the air and the environmental impact overall of power generation. Renewables also provide possibilities for investment in new energy job creation and can stimulate economic growth in more regions.

While renewables offer significant benefits for grid modernization, some challenges remain for acceptance and implementation to grow. The initial investment in building renewably-sourced infrastructure can be high, but costs are decreasing as development continues. Energy storage used by renewables is necessary for large-scale operations, which adds additional cost to construction. Some renewable sources, like solar and wind, can be intermittent in their power generation depending on weather conditions, which can make demand planning difficult for utility providers. Also, some renewable sources are dependent on geographical conditions, like flat plains or water sources, which limits their use outside of those regions.

Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the expansion of renewable power sources and the modernization of the power grid. Successful implementation requires developing the right energy mix to ensure a sustainable power supply.

The Road Ahead

The transformation of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. The full potential of renewables for grid modernization can be realized by investing in infrastructure upgrades, developing innovative technologies, and collaboration between industry stakeholders. This will ensure the world can create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy grid for the future. Like a well-balanced investment portfolio, the power grid will have a sustainable supply of energy sources going forward.

Read all blog posts in this series on grid modernization, network communications, and energy storage.

Sources:

1. IEA 2023; Renewables 2023, https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2023, License: CC BY 4.0.
2. IEA 2023; Bioenergy, https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/bioenergy, License: CC BY 4.0.