Tag: 3BL

BELLEVUE, Wash., September 25, 2024 /3BL/ – Since 2020, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS)’s $10.7 billion Project 10Million (P10M) initiative has delivered reliable and affordable internet service to more than 6 million young learners across the U.S., but even with that progress the need for connectivity has only continued to rise. Technology use in education has seen a massive 226% surge over the past five years that spans classroom and homework. School-related tasks from digital assignments to research, video streaming, video lessons, and web calls require more data. And a vast majority of students are working from homes with multiple users. All of this on top of an up to 17 million school age children across the U.S. who still may not have reliable internet access at all, according to the FCC. To meet this continued demand, the Un-carrier announced that it is enriching its P10M program, increasing the data allowance for many students to better meet user needs and partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and artist and activist Common to help even more youth get the access they need to be successful.

Starting Sept. 26, qualifying kindergarten through 12th grade student families who sign up for P10M with T-Mobile will now receive 200GB per year for five years, twice the previous 100GB allotment. Current Project 10Million families with T-Mobile will also enjoy increased data for the remainder of their five years. Student families will also be able to purchase a new highly discounted 10GB data pass for just $10 if they hit their data limit. And, starting in October 2024, school districts with the greatest needs served by P10M will have the opportunity to receive more data for their students — also up to 200GB.

To continue helping bridge the digital divide and reach more students, the Un-carrier is also partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to hold enrollment campaigns and sign-up events nationwide. Two events were recently held alongside Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award-winning artist and activist Common, a champion of digital equity, education and T-Mobile’s Project 10Million; one was held on Sept. 6 in Dallas, and the other one in the Bronx, New York, on Sept. 24.

“We launched our groundbreaking Project 10Million program back in 2020 with a simple goal – to provide free or highly subsidized home Internet to up to 10Million students at home, so they won’t fall behind in school,” said Mike Sievert, CEO, T-Mobile. “And today, after providing more than 6 million students with the critical Internet access they need to succeed, we’re making the program even better than ever, with a set of program enhancements, to help our largest and most important community program to make an even bigger impact.” 

“Our Club professionals are dedicated to ensuring all youth have the resources and support they need to achieve academic success. We believe strongly in the power of collaboration and community, which is why we’re joining forces with T-Mobile to make sure families with school-aged children have access to the essential connectivity that enables all youth to unlock their full potential,” said Jim Clark, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 

Additional Project 10Million back-to-school activations have been held or are to come in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tacoma, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; and Oklahoma City.

T-Mobile announced Project 10Million in 2019 and launched the program in 2020 with the goal of offering 10 million at-risk students a free hotspot, free data plans, and access to at-cost laptops and tablets and has continued to improve the initiative to include a portfolio of options for schools and families. To date the company has provided $6.9 billion in products and services and connected over 6 million students through P10M to help close the digital divide. To learn more and sign up go to www.t-mobile.com/project10million.

###

Data enhancements available for households eligible for the National School Lunch Program that sign up for Project 10Million directly with T-Mobile. Schools working with T-Mobile to provide access to Project 10Million for qualifying student populations may also be able to participate in these program enhancements. During congestion, Project 10Million customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization. Video typically streams in SD quality. Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup.

About T-Mobile 
T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America 
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more than 3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.

BELLEVUE, Wash., September 25, 2024 /3BL/ – Since 2020, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS)’s $10.7 billion Project 10Million (P10M) initiative has delivered reliable and affordable internet service to more than 6 million young learners across the U.S., but even with that progress the need for connectivity has only continued to rise. Technology use in education has seen a massive 226% surge over the past five years that spans classroom and homework. School-related tasks from digital assignments to research, video streaming, video lessons, and web calls require more data. And a vast majority of students are working from homes with multiple users. All of this on top of an up to 17 million school age children across the U.S. who still may not have reliable internet access at all, according to the FCC. To meet this continued demand, the Un-carrier announced that it is enriching its P10M program, increasing the data allowance for many students to better meet user needs and partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and artist and activist Common to help even more youth get the access they need to be successful.

Starting Sept. 26, qualifying kindergarten through 12th grade student families who sign up for P10M with T-Mobile will now receive 200GB per year for five years, twice the previous 100GB allotment. Current Project 10Million families with T-Mobile will also enjoy increased data for the remainder of their five years. Student families will also be able to purchase a new highly discounted 10GB data pass for just $10 if they hit their data limit. And, starting in October 2024, school districts with the greatest needs served by P10M will have the opportunity to receive more data for their students — also up to 200GB.

To continue helping bridge the digital divide and reach more students, the Un-carrier is also partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to hold enrollment campaigns and sign-up events nationwide. Two events were recently held alongside Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award-winning artist and activist Common, a champion of digital equity, education and T-Mobile’s Project 10Million; one was held on Sept. 6 in Dallas, and the other one in the Bronx, New York, on Sept. 24.

“We launched our groundbreaking Project 10Million program back in 2020 with a simple goal – to provide free or highly subsidized home Internet to up to 10Million students at home, so they won’t fall behind in school,” said Mike Sievert, CEO, T-Mobile. “And today, after providing more than 6 million students with the critical Internet access they need to succeed, we’re making the program even better than ever, with a set of program enhancements, to help our largest and most important community program to make an even bigger impact.” 

“Our Club professionals are dedicated to ensuring all youth have the resources and support they need to achieve academic success. We believe strongly in the power of collaboration and community, which is why we’re joining forces with T-Mobile to make sure families with school-aged children have access to the essential connectivity that enables all youth to unlock their full potential,” said Jim Clark, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 

Additional Project 10Million back-to-school activations have been held or are to come in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tacoma, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; and Oklahoma City.

T-Mobile announced Project 10Million in 2019 and launched the program in 2020 with the goal of offering 10 million at-risk students a free hotspot, free data plans, and access to at-cost laptops and tablets and has continued to improve the initiative to include a portfolio of options for schools and families. To date the company has provided $6.9 billion in products and services and connected over 6 million students through P10M to help close the digital divide. To learn more and sign up go to www.t-mobile.com/project10million.

###

Data enhancements available for households eligible for the National School Lunch Program that sign up for Project 10Million directly with T-Mobile. Schools working with T-Mobile to provide access to Project 10Million for qualifying student populations may also be able to participate in these program enhancements. During congestion, Project 10Million customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization. Video typically streams in SD quality. Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup.

About T-Mobile 
T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America 
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more than 3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.

Originally published in Mary Kay’s 2024 Sustainability Report

Mary Kay’s mission of enriching women’s lives as well as its approach to sustainability and corporate social responsibility exemplify what positive impact means for women and their families, local and global communities, and the next generation of STEM women leaders.

“I’ve often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives.”

Mary Kay Ash 

PINK CHANGING LIVES® 

The shape of our hearts 
Every day, Mary Kay makes a global commitment to improve the lives of women and their families. Through our Pink Changing Lives program, we empower women, transform lives, care for the planet, and inspire others. Pink Changing Lives is entirely funded by a portion of designated product sales in participating Mary Kay markets. Through Pink Changing Lives, Mary Kay supports women-related cancer research and programs, helps ending domestic violence, finding solutions to environmental issues, and fighting poverty around the world. In 2023, Mary Kay featured a limited-edition heart-shaped makeup brush through the program. Since 20008, the program has raised over $18 million.

SINCE 2008:

6 MILLION women and families positively impacted3,250 partner organizations around the world$18 MILLION DONATED

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

When women advance, everyone wins 
In 2019, Mary Kay joined forces with six United Nations agencies to form the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA), a groundbreaking partnership with a commitment to alleviate barriers to women’s entrepreneurship. Since the launch, WEA has engaged 600,000+ women and 110+ partners in global and regional high-level events and programs. The Digital Innovation Challenge for Women Entrepreneurs asked women-owned and -led startups to create solutions in support of the UN’ SDGs. The contest received 250 submissions from 50 countries and held a pitch event during the Commission on Status of Women (CSW67). On International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Mary Kay became a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the Asia Pacific region. The WEPs provide a holistic framework for companies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community and drive positive outcomes for society and business. 

NEXT GEN 

Fostering the next generation of STEM women leaders 
Mary Kay is committed to providing higher education grants and STEM learning opportunities to build a robust pipeline of female talent in STEM focused fields. Since 2020, the company has awarded 29 grants totaling $195,000 to young women from over 13 countries. In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Mary Kay hosted a STEM Youth Summit at the Richard R. Rogers (R3) Manufacturing and R&D Center, our global facility in Texas. At Mary Kay, 63% of our R&D team are women. 

COMPANY SPONSORED FOUNDATIONS

Since 19961, Mary Kay and its four company sponsored foundations have contributed nearly $225 million in documented monetary and product donations to organizations fighting cancers affecting women, helping to end domestic violence, providing education for women and girls, protecting the planet, and so much more across the globe.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2023, Mary Kay Ash was recognized by USA Today as one of the “100 Women of the Century” who have significantly impacted their communities and country.

 

1 While the company has provided philanthropic support to charitable causes for many decades, official documentation began in 1996 with the founding of the Mary Kay Ash Foundation® (U.S.)

Originally published in Mary Kay’s 2024 Sustainability Report

Mary Kay’s mission of enriching women’s lives as well as its approach to sustainability and corporate social responsibility exemplify what positive impact means for women and their families, local and global communities, and the next generation of STEM women leaders.

“I’ve often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives.”

Mary Kay Ash 

PINK CHANGING LIVES® 

The shape of our hearts 
Every day, Mary Kay makes a global commitment to improve the lives of women and their families. Through our Pink Changing Lives program, we empower women, transform lives, care for the planet, and inspire others. Pink Changing Lives is entirely funded by a portion of designated product sales in participating Mary Kay markets. Through Pink Changing Lives, Mary Kay supports women-related cancer research and programs, helps ending domestic violence, finding solutions to environmental issues, and fighting poverty around the world. In 2023, Mary Kay featured a limited-edition heart-shaped makeup brush through the program. Since 20008, the program has raised over $18 million.

SINCE 2008:

6 MILLION women and families positively impacted3,250 partner organizations around the world$18 MILLION DONATED

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

When women advance, everyone wins 
In 2019, Mary Kay joined forces with six United Nations agencies to form the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA), a groundbreaking partnership with a commitment to alleviate barriers to women’s entrepreneurship. Since the launch, WEA has engaged 600,000+ women and 110+ partners in global and regional high-level events and programs. The Digital Innovation Challenge for Women Entrepreneurs asked women-owned and -led startups to create solutions in support of the UN’ SDGs. The contest received 250 submissions from 50 countries and held a pitch event during the Commission on Status of Women (CSW67). On International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Mary Kay became a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the Asia Pacific region. The WEPs provide a holistic framework for companies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community and drive positive outcomes for society and business. 

NEXT GEN 

Fostering the next generation of STEM women leaders 
Mary Kay is committed to providing higher education grants and STEM learning opportunities to build a robust pipeline of female talent in STEM focused fields. Since 2020, the company has awarded 29 grants totaling $195,000 to young women from over 13 countries. In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Mary Kay hosted a STEM Youth Summit at the Richard R. Rogers (R3) Manufacturing and R&D Center, our global facility in Texas. At Mary Kay, 63% of our R&D team are women. 

COMPANY SPONSORED FOUNDATIONS

Since 19961, Mary Kay and its four company sponsored foundations have contributed nearly $225 million in documented monetary and product donations to organizations fighting cancers affecting women, helping to end domestic violence, providing education for women and girls, protecting the planet, and so much more across the globe.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2023, Mary Kay Ash was recognized by USA Today as one of the “100 Women of the Century” who have significantly impacted their communities and country.

 

1 While the company has provided philanthropic support to charitable causes for many decades, official documentation began in 1996 with the founding of the Mary Kay Ash Foundation® (U.S.)

Originally published in International Paper’s 2023 Sustainability Report

Our approach: Circularity at International Paper

Circularity is a key strategy for International Paper. It means that we prioritize the use of resources that are renewable, sustainably managed, recycled and reused through design, production and recovery across our value chain. For International Paper, circularity begins in the forest, where we encourage sustainable forest management and continual improvement in growing, harvesting and processing practices. This carries through to our mills where we use this renewable material and give used fiber products new life.

Circularity means recovering and reusing as much wood fiber, energy, water and other materials as possible in a continual cycle from natural resource to finished product and back again. Likewise, it means keeping as much material as possible from becoming waste destined for landfills.

Circularity also touches on product design, as engineers work to improve product quality and capability, while reducing waste and increasing the amount of recycled material that is used.

Embracing the circular economy means looking throughout our value chain for opportunities to optimize and improve our operations. In this regard, International Paper has a unique position in the market as one of the world’s largest stewards of wood and recovered fiber. As both a producer of fiber-based products and a consumer of recovered fiber, we have a marked impact on the overall circularity of our industry.

Partnering for IT circularity

IP is also committed to green computing. Our IT team has a zero-landfill policy for end-of-life electronics. We partner with Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations to remarket our old electronic equipment for reuse or, where that’s not possible, recycle defunct devices. This partnership includes computers, servers, hard drives, monitors and miscellaneous equipment. In 2023, we remarketed over 2,500 systems and recycled 183,389 pounds of assets. That’s the equivalent to taking 95 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

The four key pillars of circularity at International Paper

To achieve our Renewable Solutions goal, we’ve implemented a circularity strategy made up of four pillars. These pillars help guide how we think about our impact across our value chain and identify implementation tactics within each of our businesses that advance circular solutions.

Using every part of the tree

One way that we integrate sustainability into our operations is by selling high-quality pine chemicals. These materials come from pine trees and are a byproduct of the kraft pulping process, which can be used to make a variety of everyday goods such as biofuels, fragrances, cleaners and ink. Their small carbon footprints make these pine chemicals an eco-friendly alternative to the petroleum-based materials used by the chemical industry. With demand for some pine chemicals exceeding supply and expected to grow, we plan to rapidly scale our capabilities so we can sell 100% of our pine chemicals by 2027.

Source sustainable raw materials

International Paper’s primary raw material is, of course, fiber. And this is where our sustainability strategy begins. We source both recycled and new, renewable fiber from trees grown in sustainably managed forests. Wherever possible, we use renewable, sustainable or recycled materials — fibers, chemicals, packaging, etc. — across our manufacturing process.

Our commitment to using sustainable raw materials aligns with a core principle of circularity: regenerating natural systems. In a nutshell, since our products are made from renewable resources, they replace less sustainable, carbon-intensive nonrenewable alternatives.

Every year, our operations use 5.2 million tons of recovered fiber to make new fiberbased products, making International Paper one of the world’s largest users of recovered fiber.

Use circular manufacturing processes

Circularity is at the heart of what we do at International Paper. Within our manufacturing process, this is done by designing for sustainability, minimizing waste and maximizing the recovery and reuse of materials.

By becoming more circular, designing in efficiency, and improving our environmental impact, we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a sustainable low-carbon future. In 2023, 48% of our manufacturing waste was diverted from disposal for beneficial uses.

Create innovative products

International Paper products make a significant contribution to a low-carbon circular economy. We think about the entire lifecycle of the product and how changes in product design impact decisions along its value chain. The result is products that are:

Made efficiently and sustainably, from sourcing to production to transportationDesigned with end of life in mindEasily recovered, recycled, reused or composted

Our product strategy is informed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the world’s leading circular economy network. Through our membership, we’re working with the Foundation and its partners to advance our contributions to circular lowcarbon solutions.

Learn more about our 2023 product innovations here.

Collaborate on solutions

Collaboration across our value chain is key to our success. That’s why we team up with our customers, supply chain partners and thought leaders to develop innovative ideas and gather diverse points of view. The teams at our research and development centers are at the forefront of these creative solutions.

The circular solutions we create together not only respond to changing market conditions and consumer demands, but also have multiple lives through repeated cycles of reuse, recovery and recycling. Learn more about some of our 2023 collaborations here.

The sustainability benefits of fiber-based packaging

Fiber-based packaging:

is made from a renewable resource 
so it is composed of both recycled and new fiber grown in sustainably managed forests. Using paper packaging reduces the reliance on non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels, and promotes sustainable practices.

is easy to recycle 
so it can be turned into new paper products. Recycling paper ensures a valuable renewable material is recovered and reused, reducing waste going into landfills

is lightweight 
so it can lower freight and handling costs with fewer trucks on the roads, less fuel used and lower emissions from transportation.

has a lower carbon footprint 
so it has a smaller impact on the climate. The production process of paper involves fewer chemicals and energy than other packaging, which means that it generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

keeps forests working 
so they can continue to conserve biodiversity and provide clean air and water for communities. Responsibly grown, managed and harvested forests provide a sustainable supply of fiber for products, while ensuring forestland remains forested.

Read more

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, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper – EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and specialty pulp, employing approximately 4,400 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Specialty pulp is made in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include a variety of Kraft linerboard and other pulp products.

Originally published in International Paper’s 2023 Sustainability Report

Our approach: Circularity at International Paper

Circularity is a key strategy for International Paper. It means that we prioritize the use of resources that are renewable, sustainably managed, recycled and reused through design, production and recovery across our value chain. For International Paper, circularity begins in the forest, where we encourage sustainable forest management and continual improvement in growing, harvesting and processing practices. This carries through to our mills where we use this renewable material and give used fiber products new life.

Circularity means recovering and reusing as much wood fiber, energy, water and other materials as possible in a continual cycle from natural resource to finished product and back again. Likewise, it means keeping as much material as possible from becoming waste destined for landfills.

Circularity also touches on product design, as engineers work to improve product quality and capability, while reducing waste and increasing the amount of recycled material that is used.

Embracing the circular economy means looking throughout our value chain for opportunities to optimize and improve our operations. In this regard, International Paper has a unique position in the market as one of the world’s largest stewards of wood and recovered fiber. As both a producer of fiber-based products and a consumer of recovered fiber, we have a marked impact on the overall circularity of our industry.

Partnering for IT circularity

IP is also committed to green computing. Our IT team has a zero-landfill policy for end-of-life electronics. We partner with Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations to remarket our old electronic equipment for reuse or, where that’s not possible, recycle defunct devices. This partnership includes computers, servers, hard drives, monitors and miscellaneous equipment. In 2023, we remarketed over 2,500 systems and recycled 183,389 pounds of assets. That’s the equivalent to taking 95 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

The four key pillars of circularity at International Paper

To achieve our Renewable Solutions goal, we’ve implemented a circularity strategy made up of four pillars. These pillars help guide how we think about our impact across our value chain and identify implementation tactics within each of our businesses that advance circular solutions.

Using every part of the tree

One way that we integrate sustainability into our operations is by selling high-quality pine chemicals. These materials come from pine trees and are a byproduct of the kraft pulping process, which can be used to make a variety of everyday goods such as biofuels, fragrances, cleaners and ink. Their small carbon footprints make these pine chemicals an eco-friendly alternative to the petroleum-based materials used by the chemical industry. With demand for some pine chemicals exceeding supply and expected to grow, we plan to rapidly scale our capabilities so we can sell 100% of our pine chemicals by 2027.

Source sustainable raw materials

International Paper’s primary raw material is, of course, fiber. And this is where our sustainability strategy begins. We source both recycled and new, renewable fiber from trees grown in sustainably managed forests. Wherever possible, we use renewable, sustainable or recycled materials — fibers, chemicals, packaging, etc. — across our manufacturing process.

Our commitment to using sustainable raw materials aligns with a core principle of circularity: regenerating natural systems. In a nutshell, since our products are made from renewable resources, they replace less sustainable, carbon-intensive nonrenewable alternatives.

Every year, our operations use 5.2 million tons of recovered fiber to make new fiberbased products, making International Paper one of the world’s largest users of recovered fiber.

Use circular manufacturing processes

Circularity is at the heart of what we do at International Paper. Within our manufacturing process, this is done by designing for sustainability, minimizing waste and maximizing the recovery and reuse of materials.

By becoming more circular, designing in efficiency, and improving our environmental impact, we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a sustainable low-carbon future. In 2023, 48% of our manufacturing waste was diverted from disposal for beneficial uses.

Create innovative products

International Paper products make a significant contribution to a low-carbon circular economy. We think about the entire lifecycle of the product and how changes in product design impact decisions along its value chain. The result is products that are:

Made efficiently and sustainably, from sourcing to production to transportationDesigned with end of life in mindEasily recovered, recycled, reused or composted

Our product strategy is informed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the world’s leading circular economy network. Through our membership, we’re working with the Foundation and its partners to advance our contributions to circular lowcarbon solutions.

Learn more about our 2023 product innovations here.

Collaborate on solutions

Collaboration across our value chain is key to our success. That’s why we team up with our customers, supply chain partners and thought leaders to develop innovative ideas and gather diverse points of view. The teams at our research and development centers are at the forefront of these creative solutions.

The circular solutions we create together not only respond to changing market conditions and consumer demands, but also have multiple lives through repeated cycles of reuse, recovery and recycling. Learn more about some of our 2023 collaborations here.

The sustainability benefits of fiber-based packaging

Fiber-based packaging:

is made from a renewable resource 
so it is composed of both recycled and new fiber grown in sustainably managed forests. Using paper packaging reduces the reliance on non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels, and promotes sustainable practices.

is easy to recycle 
so it can be turned into new paper products. Recycling paper ensures a valuable renewable material is recovered and reused, reducing waste going into landfills

is lightweight 
so it can lower freight and handling costs with fewer trucks on the roads, less fuel used and lower emissions from transportation.

has a lower carbon footprint 
so it has a smaller impact on the climate. The production process of paper involves fewer chemicals and energy than other packaging, which means that it generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

keeps forests working 
so they can continue to conserve biodiversity and provide clean air and water for communities. Responsibly grown, managed and harvested forests provide a sustainable supply of fiber for products, while ensuring forestland remains forested.

Read more

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, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper – EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and specialty pulp, employing approximately 4,400 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Specialty pulp is made in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include a variety of Kraft linerboard and other pulp products.

This article is co-authored by Paul Camuti, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies and Kinnar Ghiya, Vice President, Procurement, Trane Technologies.

According to the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), in order to limit global warming to 1.5C or less in line with the Paris Agreement, it is essential to decarbonize our economy by 2050. And there is no decarbonizing our economy without decarbonizing buildings.

Embodied carbon in the built environment

Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global energy and related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions—the energy needed to heat, cool and power them—and 11% from materials and construction. We are proud to be leading the reduction of operational emissions by achieving our 2030 Sustainability Commitments, but in order to achieve global climate goals, we also need to reduce the embodied carbon in building materials and equipment.

Embodied carbon refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product material’s lifecycle, including the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation and recycling. According to the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), embodied carbon in building materials and equipment needs to be reduced by at least 40% from today’s levels by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050.

The embodied carbon footprint of buildings is made up of major building components like steel, concrete and aluminum, along with equipment like HVAC chillers and heat pumps and thermal storage systems, as well as electrical and plumping equipment. This is where Trane Technologies has a major opportunity to contribute.

Trane Technologies moves to reduce embodied carbon

Trane Technologies has announced a commitment to reduce embodied carbon by 40% by 2030. This is an industry-first, first-of-its-scale, precedent-setting commitment. It’s an expansion of our 2030 Sustainability Commitments, and it builds on our momentum for sourcing more sustainable solutions like low-carbon steel.

Industry-first and NGO aligned

WBCSD and WorldGBC have called for the building sector to reduce embodied carbon. And we are proud to be the first HVAC company to make the commitment. As a growth company, we don’t follow norms. We set them.

An expansion of our commitments

We have bold ambitions, set against aggressive baselines. We are constantly scanning the environment for opportunities to move faster and go farther. This new embodied carbon commitment is an expansion of our Leading by Example commitment to reduce the environmental impact of our own operations. As such, it is also set against a 2019 baseline.

Building on our momentum

In November 2022 we made a commitment to source low-carbon steel, and by November 2023, we had shipped more than one million HVAC units made with that low-carbon steel to homes, schools and data centers across the United States.

Our growth mindset and commitment to operational excellence serve as a system of checks and balances. With our deep experience, we know we need to test a bold commitment like this to ensure we can deliver. We have. And we will.

Collaborating with our suppliers

The building sector is incredibly interconnected. Our technology solutions are a component of buildings. And materials like steel, copper and aluminum are components of our solutions. Our suppliers have suppliers, and so on. We are transforming our economy. No one can do this alone.

And so we are collaborating with our suppliers to reduce carbon intensity across the value chain. This is a work in progress, and we are working together to bring transparency, standard approaches and efficient ways to measure and manage embodied carbon.

Building materials: We will focus our efforts on partnering with suppliers of materials used in buildings and building equipment, including steel, aluminum, copper and refrigerants, while continuing to incorporate circular design criteria into our product development projects.All top-emitting categories can contribute, but a priority approach will be leveraged for those with the highest impact and scale.

One company can change an industry

From our customers to our own operations to our suppliers, we are looking for ways to reduce emissions every step of the way. With this new commitment, we are addressing both sides of the challenge to reduce our own and our customers’ carbon footprints: by reducing operational carbon through the Gigaton Challenge and embodied carbon through this expansion of our Leading by Example commitment.

Our strong sustainability performance is the direct result of our culture and the actions our people take every day to deliver on our commitments. Our procurement teams are excited by the challenge to reduce embodied carbon. It aligns with our constant focus on productivity, growth, resiliency and sustainability.

The products we manufacture have a significant lifetime, often upwards of 15-20 years or more. The actions we take today to reduce the embodied carbon of those products have far-reaching implications for achieving tomorrow’s goals. And beyond our products, the way we lead matters.

With this move to reduce embodied carbon, we are elevating the important research of our NGO partners, we are celebrating the good work of our suppliers, and we are leading our industry forward to a more sustainable future. 
 

This article includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of securities laws, which are statements that are not historical facts, including statements that relate to our decarbonization efforts, our sustainability commitments and the impact of these commitments. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause such differences can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Originally published on NRG Insights

By Gin Kinney

With the conclusion of our 17th annual week of volunteerism, positiveNRG Impact Week, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of giving back and community. Both can profoundly shape our lives and leave a lasting impact. Giving back, at its core, is about dedicating time, resources, skills, or financial support to help others. Being part of a community requires more than just belonging – it requires action.

I continue to be inspired by the generosity, passion, and unwavering commitment of NRG employees for the communities where we live and work. Their readiness to give their time, effort, and care to enrich the lives of others, demonstrates the heart of what it means to truly be part of something greater than ourselves.

Making a difference

PositiveNRG, the philanthropic arm of NRG, has always been key in defining who we are as a company. It enables us to put our values into action by promoting healthy choices, enabling community resilience, and supporting environmental health. I am proud to work for a company that is dedicated to making a real difference.

Our corporate social responsibility initiatives including positiveNRG, have created a culture of caring and responsibility at NRG, one that has fostered strong ties across our employee base and instilled a shared sense of purpose that continues to drive connection among each other and within our communities.

It was amazing to connect and build lasting bonds while giving back. This year’s focus for positiveNRG Impact Week was food insecurity. Our colleagues united across 43 cities in the U.S. and Canada to provide one million meals to local nonprofits. I hope you will tune in to NRG’s social media channels to learn more and be encouraged by what the NRG team was able to achieve together this week and beyond.

Yum! Brands

Kudos to Jardine Restaurant Group of Vietnam (JRGVN) for launching their eco-friendly hexagonal pizza box design, using sustainably sourced packaging made from FSC-certified paper. One pizza box at a time, they’re helping to protect the forests.

Read their post below:

Each of our pizza boxes also carries out the mission of sustainable forest development.

Besides the new hexagonal pizza box design, which reduced plastic waste by over 6,000 kg annually, other Pizza Hut packaging, such as takeaway cups and salad boxes, also contributes to forest conservation through FSC-certified paper.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, a voluntary standard for forest management organizations and wood product manufacturers, upholds stringent criteria for sustainable development. It balances environmental protection, social benefits for stakeholders (including manufacturers, businesses, communities, and residents), and economic viability.

Complying with FSC certification means that Pizza Hut uses natural resources effectively, reduces over-exploitation of forests, and ensures the balance of the forest ecosystem in the process of exploiting raw materials to produce paper boxes. Regarding society, this practice indirectly provides a planned livelihood for forest workers and prevents illegal logging. Therefore, while holding a pizza box in your hand, you are joining us in protecting the forests.

Small actions can have a significant impact. Jardine Restaurant Group Vietnam is committed to transparency and sustainable practices across all business operations, demonstrating our dedication to customers and environment.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

V3 Sports in North Minneapolis opened a community-inspired health and wellness facility in June and the nonprofit already has more than 900 members.

“Our goal for the year was 600,” said executive director Malik Rucker. “This speaks to the community’s desire and demand for quality facilities in North Minneapolis. There is a need here. We are 92 percent North Siders as far as membership; we are hitting our target audience.”

V3 started in 2007 as a triathlon team that competed locally and at the national level. Through working with students and their families, founding director Erika Binger realized there was a lack of infrastructure for water safety in North Minneapolis.

She and other leaders began to explore how they could create a space for the team to operate in year-round and provide other needed resources to the area. (For more, see the video above.)

North Minneapolis, close to the U.S. Bank headquarters, is a geographic area where the bank is focused on place-based investing, a concentrated, long-term effort that involves community co-design with strategic partners to help build wealth in low-to-moderate income communities and communities of color.

The U.S. Bank Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to V3 because of its mission to elevate the North Minneapolis community through fitness, wellness and education.

The organization is living out its mission through its 40,000-square-foot, multi-phased, mixed-use facility that includes a 25-yard instructional swimming pool for children and adults, a hydrotherapy pool, a Boys & Girls Club, a fitness center with drop-in childcare, a workforce development center featuring a job training facility, and an entrepreneurial incubator space.

“V3 is a one-of-a-kind facility that creates space for the community to come together, for individuals to grow personally, and to attract business and economic development opportunities to the region,” said U.S. Bank community affairs manager Sofia Terzic.

“The leadership at V3, led by Malik and Erika, has built the vision of V3 by listening to community, which is something we highly value at U.S. Bank,” Terzic said. “They use the facility to elevate community and individuals. We are excited to support V3 as it supports the growth and prosperity of North Minneapolis and its residents.”

In addition, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance made an investment of $1.8 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) equity to help finance the first phase of V3’s growth plans and provided a $35,000 grant.

“Our investment provides equitable access to health and wellness resources for North Minneapolis residents and helps to close the opportunity gaps of investment and infrastructure between downtown and North Minneapolis,” said Dan Blocher, Impact Finance senior vice president and business development officer.

Rucker said that NMTCs can be a difficult form of financing but, “we made it work and now look at what’s happening at V3. We are very thankful.”

In addition to U.S. Bank Foundation support for V3, funds have supported other nonprofits doing work in North Minneapolis, including Playworks and Minneapolis Parks Foundation.

The investments made in all three organizations are part of U.S. Bank’s concentrated, long-term focus in North Minneapolis to leverage the bank’s array of products and services to drive lasting impact, help create safe recreation opportunities, and build thriving communities.”

“We are focused on powering potential, and that guides our strategy for community relationships,” Terzic said. “As a crucial neighborhood in our headquarters market, we are committed to supporting North Minneapolis so the community and its residents can thrive.”

According to Rucker, V3 now employs nearly 70 people and as phase two is completed, approximately 100 jobs will have been created.

“The jobs being created and the geographic location are intended to have a spillover effect in bringing economic activity to the Plymouth Avenue corridor – where our facility sits – in North Minneapolis,” he said.

Phase two will add 200,000 square feet and is expected to break ground in approximately one year. Plans include the installation of a 50-meter competition pool used in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, with the intent to create a regional swimming hub in North Minneapolis.

“U.S. Bank is really the only company so far that has walked alongside us – a testament to how the organization listens to the community and invests in businesses,” Rucker said. “Place-based investing is building out a community with community, in community.”

*U.S. Bank Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded primarily through contributions from U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates and subsidiaries. The Foundation’s mission is to close the gaps between people and possibility in the areas of work, home and play.