Tag: 3BL

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.

They say good things don’t drop from the sky, but they recently did in Western Kenya: Two thousand rabies vaccines were delivered by drones in one day to help combat the disease in these rural communities. To ensure an effective cold chain storage, extensive collaboration was needed from pioneers on the ground, including NGOs, private companies, and public authorities. The use of drones introduces long-awaited, new possibilities for secure, on-demand delivery of life-saving products – for the individuals, animals and communities who need them most.

A black dot appears on the horizon, rapidly approaching with a whirring sound. Excited children race through the streets, chasing the flying object, as dogs bark in the background. This marks the arrival of an eagerly anticipated delivery in Bungoma County, Kenya, where the use of drones is creating new possibilities – bringing with them two thousand doses of rabies vaccines for the local communities’ dogs. Rabies is a fatal disease, primarily caused by dogs.1 These deaths could be avoided if available vaccines could be securely transported and cooled, readily accessible even in remote regions.

Joyce Wamalwa is a healthcare worker at the Kibisi Dispensary hospital in Kenya, facing the harsh reality of the immense suffering the disease brings to the people she serves. “We’re doing our best to combat rabies, but it’s tough,” she says. “We lack vaccines and must send patients to other hospitals for life-saving treatment, forcing them to travel for hours on rough roads.” Wamalwa is regularly in touch with the local organization Core Health and Wealth International (CHW) and was asked earlier this year to share her insights and experiences. It marked the beginning of what became a successful pilot project to fight rabies in Kenya and unfolded through a remarkable collaborative effort between us as a multinational corporation, start-ups and local organizations from our Making More Health (MMH) initiative, government authorities, and the people on the ground.

Providing medication to underserved communities

In many Sub-Saharan African countries, vaccines and temperature-sensitive medical products are mainly transported by motorbikes, with limited storage, cooling, and security. Unstable cold chains make verifying vaccinations difficult and hinder timely rabies vaccine delivery. To implement an effective vaccination delivery program, it was essential to leverage the expertise of many of our partners in our existing Sustainable Development for Generations. “We have worked hard to build trust and create effective partnerships on the ground, with the shared objective of creating better access to essential health services,” says Ayman Eissa, Lead Sustainable Development at Boehringer Ingelheim IMETA (India, Middle East, Turkey and Africa). Collaborating with local NGOs from our Making More Health (MMH) network, like CHW and GAASPP (Golden Age and Albinism Support and Protection Program), a regional community organization in Western Kenya, the team was able to rely on a strong foundation of trust to engage the local communities. The next step was to find an aerial transportation partner to explore opportunities with a lasting impact on healthcare outcomes.

“We have worked hard to build trust and create effective partnerships on the ground, with the shared objective of creating better access to essential health services.”

Ayman Eissa,
Lead Sustainable Development at Boehringer Ingelheim IMETA

Partnering for drone distributions

Upon joint consultation, Daniel Blay and his team from Zipline, specializing in on-demand drone delivery, became part of the Kenyan pilot project to distribute vaccines. Their long-range, high-speed drones weigh under 25kg and carry up to 3kg. Dropping packages from a height of 30 meters, they fly at altitudes between 100 and 200 meters, remaining virtually unnoticed until they are just two minutes away. „Zipline serves as the technology provider, but our success depends on strong partners on the ground who mobilize communities and supply high-quality products,“ says Zipline’s Vice President Blay.

To cover the crucial lastmile to remote vaccination stations, VacciBox, a portable solar-powered fridge, was used during the campaign. „Not a single vaccine was wasted that day,“ Norah Magero, founder of Drop Access, proudly recalls, emphasizing that the challenge is not a lack of vaccines, but rather spoiled vaccines due to inadequate storage. The start-up joined the MMH Accelerator Program earlier this year and was asked to support the rabies project. This experience demonstrated VacciBox’s potential, now capable of storing up to 3,000 vaccines and running for 36 hours on battery.

On-site insights, people who recognize the program’s benefits, and professionals constructing dispensers for the delivered products (as done by CHW) are crucial for the project’s success. An impressive tally of approximately 2,000 dogs were vaccinated at eight different sites throughout Bungoma and Kakamega County in only one day. By the end of the year, the program aims to distribute an additional 10,000 doses across Kenya’s Lake Region Economic Bloc.

Disruption to by an entire ecosystem

The Kenyan pilot project builds on a successful proof-of-concept in Ghana, aiming to create robust health systems using drone delivery. CowTribe is one of the organizations that made this innovative collaboration possible in the first place. The Ghana-based start-up offers a platform for livestock farmers to access vaccinations and veterinary services by aggregating demand and has been part of the MMH network since 2019. In collaboration with Zipline and a cross-functional team from Boehringer Ingelheim, the pioneers had established a holistic approach to identify infrastructural pain points for farmers and agro-vets, building a groundbreaking distribution system.

In the first half of 2023, 292 drone flights distributed 1.4 million poultry vaccine doses to nearly 5,000 rural smallholders, which resulted in a significant reduction in vaccine costs. “Nearly all our deliveries are now drone-supported, cutting customer wait times from several days to a maximum of eight hours,” confirms CowTribe CEO Peter Adwin.

The impact of drone delivery in healthcare, facilitated by reliable collaboration on the ground, is truly remarkable: This innovative approach not only has the potential to make the delivery of essential healthcare products more efficient and cost-effective, but it also enables on-demand deliveries without the need for storage at a facility. “Our collective disruption through a co-created ecosystem is recognized by stakeholders on the ground and within the government, validating our ambitions,” emphasizes Kiran Dsouza, Head of IT at Boehringer Ingelheim IMETA.

This acknowledgment underscores the significance of our collaborative efforts, serving as a prime example of how, by working together, we can empower communities to improve their living conditions and make a meaningful contribution to enhance access to health in the most remote areas of this world.

“Nearly all our deliveries are now drone-supported, cutting customer wait times from several days to a maximum of eight hours.”

Peter Adwin, CEO of CowTribe

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Find out more about Boehringer Ingelheim’s global sustainablility initiatives, ranging from creating more sustainable healthcare solutions and community engagement with impact to environmental stewardship in Imagine: our sustainability story hub.

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Originally published on Sesame Workshop

Free bilingual videos, printables, and articles aim to inspire young children and their families to be active members in their communities.

NEW YORK, November 12, 2024 /3BL/ – Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, launched new free, bilingual resources today to help children learn the importance of being engaged with their community by helping others, working together, and being kind. These resources are made possible with generous support from the PSEG Foundation and join the current lineup of resources under the Little Neighbors: Building a Better World Together initiative to help young children and their families build a better world together. Through teamwork, little neighbors everywhere can tackle challenges big and small and take care of their families, communities, and the environment.

Children have the potential to be changemakers. When young children, along with their families, are engaged with their communities and providers, it can promote a sense of belonging, responsibility, and empowerment. With these new resources, Sesame Workshop aims to support and inspire children and their families to actively engage in their communities and, ultimately, help care for our planet and make the world a better place for all. Key strategies include tackling challenges through teamwork as a family, identifying ways young children can make a difference, and understanding how little acts of kindness can make a big impact.

The new resources in English and Spanish include videos, printable activities, and articles, featuring Elmo, Abby, and other Sesame Street friends as they explore various aspects of community engagement:

In “A Garden of Support”, Abby, her mom, Maggie, her stepbrother, Rudy, and other Sesame Street friends work together to clean up the community garden.“Little Helpers, Big Helping” features Abby and Maggie helping a Twiddlebug family build a playground, to show a small gesture can make a big difference.In “Helping at Home, Helping the Neighborhood”, Julia helps her mom, Elena, clean containers for the community center, and the whole family finds things at home to donate to the local drive.In “Little Neighbors Can Do Big Things”, Elmo and Abby build a birdhouse to help the street’s newest resident feel welcome.Other resources include six printable activities: Helping and Caring, Julia’s Community Mural, Playground Helpers, Together Trail, Community Garden Clean-up, and Community Connections as well as two articles entitled “Empowering Kids to Make a Big Impact in Their Communities” and “Engaging Kids with Nature and Community: Outdoor Activities and Adventures”.

“We know that children are naturally curious and eager to learn about the world around them,” said Jeanette Betancourt, Ed.D., Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact, Sesame Workshop. “When we provide them with tools and resources to actively engage in their communities, we set the foundation early on to empower children as they continue to learn and grow to be kind, compassionate, and respectful of others and to make a positive difference in the world.”

In celebration of 10-years of partnership, the PSEG Foundation will host an event today on World Environment Day with a guest appearance by Costume Character Elmo and a presentation of the Little Neighbors Program materials, video & volunteer sheets. The event highlights the program as a resource for schools, families, and organizations to teach children how to care for their environment and become helpful community members.

“PSEG is proud that, through our partnership with Sesame Workshop, we’ve been able to help families throughout New Jersey better prepare for extreme weather and other disasters, develop environmental awareness, and expand their appreciation to the larger world. We’re excited to launch new resources that focus on our environment, under our Little Neighbors initiative,” said Rick Thigpen, PSEG senior vice president – Corporate Citizenship. “We know that when children act on their curiosity and get excited about protecting our planet, they often become catalysts for change within their families and communities.”

Building on its longstanding partnership with the PSEG Foundation, Sesame Workshop aims to provide parents, caregivers and community providers with tools and strategies to show children that small actions can have a big impact in their community, their neighborhood, and in the world. Resources to help parents and caregivers support children to become more active in their communities can be found at sesame.org/littleneighbors.

About Sesame Workshop 
Sesame Workshop is the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.

About PSEG Foundation 
The PSEG Foundation (501(c)(3), the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), prioritizes investments in promoting environmental sustainability, social justice, and equity and economic empowerment. 

About PSEG 
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG) is a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future. Guided by its Powering Progress vision, PSEG aims to power a future where people use less energy, and it’s cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. PSEG’s commitment to ESG and sustainability is demonstrated in our net-zero 2030 climate vision and participation in the U.N. Race to Zero, as well as our inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index and the list of America’s most JUST Companies. PSEG’s businesses include Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island.

Contact

Leighann Dunkley, Sesame Workshop
leighann.dunkley@sesame.org

Lauren Ugorji, PSEG
Lauren.Ugorji@pseg.com