Tag: 3BL

Client background

The organization is a public academic health science center whose entities include hospitals, clinics, teaching facilities and a research center.

The business challenge

The organization was looking to adopt a modern human capital management (HCM) system to replace their current 20-year-old fragmented system and had engaged Baker Tilly, in collaboration with a prime contractor, to jointly migrate its human resource system to Oracle HCM Cloud to support planned growth and future challenges. The new enterprise solution was the first of many IT modernization initiatives planned in support of the five-year strategic vision.

Looking beyond the immediate benefits a modernized system would bring, the organization capitalized on the opportunity to reengineer their HCM processes including the way they were going to recruit, train and manage performance going forward. With these incoming changes, the organization realized a need to clearly articulate the process changes that were going to be experienced across their organization as a result of the new technology.

The communication work for the new HCM solution was led by the organization’s internal change team with support from Baker Tilly’s Organizational Readiness team, however they found that developing a strong value proposition to drive support and buy-in for both the new technology as well as their reformed processes would be best supported by a dependency to the higher-level strategic priority. The organization further engaged Baker Tilly’s Organizational Readiness team to construct an overarching and integrated messaging framework and execution plan designed to build strategic alignment between the system and process changes for this initiative and their organizational goals.

Strategy and solution

Baker Tilly worked with the organization’s change team to identify a change network that would be essential in driving support for this strategic-level initiative and setting the stage for the upcoming digital transformation initiatives. The Baker Tilly team began by interviewing senior leadership responsible for the success of this project as well as business leaders across each of their four entities (hospital, clinic, teaching and research) to assess the existing support and level of effort that would be required to adapt to the new HCM processes.

Through this risk and readiness assessment the team was able to engage key stakeholders in the development of impactful messaging that would foster support of the incoming changes and equip leadership with the tools needed to educate staff and begin to socialize the value proposition downstream. Because each entity has a different mission specific to the work they do, Baker Tilly further tailored the messaging to connect their unique perspectives to the strategic vision and goals so that employees across the organization would understand why the change was necessary and have a clear motivation for why they should care and support the new system and processes.

In addition to constructing the messaging, Baker Tilly developed talking points, toolkits and a communication plan, outlining the steps required to build awareness and rally support for a unified and consistent HCM system across the organization. This plan empowered leadership to work as change agents to generate support for the change. As a result, the organization was equipped with the tools to drive the change forward during the system go-live and laid the foundation to cultivate support for the upcoming digital transformation initiatives.

Interested in learning more? Connect with the Baker Tilly team today.

IBM

The role of AI in the classroom is evolving rapidly. When students and teachers embrace this technology, it has the ability to democratize access to education through programs like IBM SkillsBuild. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Dr. Laurie Santos, host of Pushkin’s The Happiness Lab podcast, spoke with two innovators in the space. Justina Nixon-Saintil is Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility, and April Dawson is an Associate Dean of Technology and Innovation and a professor of law. They discuss the importance of lifelong learning, upskilling, and the ethical implications of AI in education.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

When you hear the phrase, “the joys of childhood,” it may evoke memories of chasing butterflies in the backyard, baking cookies with grandma or maybe a crafts table stacked high with items handmade with love.

Sadly, for the 10,000 kids diagnosed with cancer each year, childhood may also carry other memories — machines, medications and, in many cases, isolation become a part of their day-to-day lives.

That’s why Sunrise Association offers day camp programs throughout the country that give children with cancer and their siblings the opportunity to participate in a full-summer experience while continuing their treatments and enjoying the comfort and safety of their homes at night. And they provide this gift, free of charge.

With a shared mission, Aflac paired up with Sunrise Association this summer to deliver more than 75 My Special Aflac Ducks®, also free of charge, to children at Horizon Day Camp — Metro DC, a project between the Pozez JCC and the Sunrise Association. Campers were given a demonstration of the duck and an overview of their new companion’s features that provide additional delight through innovative technology to help children prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings, practice distraction techniques and more. This is the third year the two organizations have worked together to deliver the cuddly companion to campers.

Watch this video to hear what Ann Marie Tilias, mother of three campers, has to say about her family’s experience. 

In 2024, Aflac contributed $70,000 to Sunrise Associates to help support children with cancer and their siblings to go to camp which, like My Special Aflac Duck, is completely free of charge.To date, Aflac has given $190,000 to help support Sunrise Association, a part of Aflac’s nearly 30-year and more than $184 million commitment to the pediatric cancer and blood disorder initiative.

Since 2018, Aflac has distributed more than 32,000 My Special Aflac Ducks to children ages 3 and up with a pediatric cancer or blood disorders like a sickle cell diagnosis. The robotic companion was designed in consult with more than 100 children, families and medical professionals in conjunction with Empath Labs to produce the comforting, lifelike movements, and many more features that bring cheer. My Special Aflac Duck was recently the focus of a three-year clinical study spearheaded by researchers at Emory University and conducted at eight hospitals across the country. The study, which included 160 patients, their families and health care professionals, was released in April, showing that My Special Aflac Duck helps pediatric patients with cancer cope with treatment-related distress and anxiety.

Health care providers, support organizations and families can order My Special Aflac Duck free of charge for children 3 years or older who have been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at myspecialaflacduck.com.

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DP World and Rumo’s strategic partnership enhances Brazil’s agricultural exports, strengthening supply chains and advancing global efforts toward UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Brazil plays a critical role in global food security through its agricultural exports, which feed about 11% of the world’s population. As climate change, population growth, and geopolitical tensions intensify, Brazil’s position as the “breadbasket of the world” becomes increasingly vital.

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal, “Feeding the World: From the Brazilian Heartland by Rail and Sea” explores the how the Port of Santos, Latin America’s largest port and a key hub for Brazil’s agricultural exports, stands at the center of this effort. 

DP World, in partnership with Brazil’s leading railroad company, Rumo, is spearheading a major infrastructure expansion at Santos, including a new state-of-the-art terminal for grains and fertilizers. This project is designed to enhance the port’s capacity and competitiveness, benefiting Brazilian farmers and strengthening global food supply chains.

Rail transportation is emphasized as a solution to the logistical challenges posed by the vast distances between Brazil’s agricultural heartland and its ports, with environmental benefits like reduced CO2 emissions and road congestion. 

The collaboration aims to create economic opportunities, reduce supply chain costs, and increase production capacity, while boosting exports and ensuring sustainable, efficient logistics.

The expansion of Brazil’s agricultural export infrastructure aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. By improving the efficiency of Brazil’s food supply chains through strategic investments in ports and railroads, the country is better positioned to meet the growing global demand for food, especially in regions facing food insecurity. 

Enhanced logistics and reduced costs contribute to more equitable food distribution, addressing both economic and environmental challenges. This collaboration between DP World and Rumo not only supports Brazilian farmers but also plays a crucial role in advancing global efforts to ensure food security for all, in line with the UN’s vision for a sustainable future.Top of Form

Read the full story here: Feeding the World: From the Brazilian Heartland by Rail and Sea

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Originally published on August 13th on LinkedIn

At Sysco, we believe in the power of giving back. Every year, we recognize the incredible contributions of our volunteers and a Sysco site that goes above and beyond in contributing the most volunteer hours.

Our colleagues’ dedication to service is vital to achieving our Global Good Goal of giving $500 million worth of ‘good’ to global communities by 2025. Their passion for volunteerism drives meaningful change, showing that together, we can make a lasting impact.

Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Year winners and thank you for continuing to support the communities we serve.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended June 29, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.

 For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoFoods. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

View original content here.

Originally published in Crown Holding’s 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report

This year, we again hold ourselves accountable to the commitments we have made to stakeholders to move Crown’s Twentyby30™ program forward. Now, more than two years into that journey, we need to speak to those commitments and to the progress we have made to this point.

You will see in this report that we are open about where we have progressed and where there is still work to be done. We acknowledge that achieving the aggressive goals we have set, both as a Company and as an industry, takes collective effort. That collaboration cannot be achieved without transparency and communication.

Since launching Twentyby30™ in 2020, our priority has been not just to set goals, but to actively roadmap our work to execute them. It is easy to establish targets, but the challenge is to continue to make progress toward those goals. While that progress cannot always be linear, we are furthering our efforts and are confident in our ability to ultimately meet our goals by 2030. Additionally, as we move through this decade, we are determined to pursue our targets in a way that is thoughtful, manageable and effective.

In 2022, we were able to demonstrate progress against several key areas of the Twentyby30™ program. For example, to support the goals in our Climate Action pillar, we continue to seek out opportunities for renewable energy sources, add major solar installations to existing and new plants and procure large-scale renewable projects. On the topic of circularity, we co-hosted the first Global Aluminium Can Sustainability Summit in partnership with the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the International Aluminium Institute, which kickstarted important industry conversations. The event brought together all parts of the aluminum supply chain to discuss tactics for driving actionable progress toward the industry’s sustainability goals.

We are committed to being mindful in the procurement of our raw materials, and in 2022, we took steps to receive certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for our beverage can operations in Mexico, validating that we are operating ethically within the supply chain as we source our materials. This verification comes after our Brazilian operations’ ASI certification and will be followed by similar efforts in several of our operating regions.

In addition, we have elevated our involvement with key organizations to actively support the global progress against climate change. We made commitments to both the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the CEO Water Mandate, which will hold us accountable for implementing more resourceful efficiency measures within our organization and working with our partners on larger goals.

These efforts were noticed by our sustainability peers this year, earning us recognition by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies, as well as being included among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2022 by 3BL Media and Forbes’ inaugural World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies. We are also especially proud to report that Sustainalytics ranked us as a leader in the top 3% of the containers and packaging industry for the third year in a row out of more than 100 global companies reviewed.

As always, I would like to express my gratitude for our teams around the world who are fostering this impactful change and helping us progress toward each of our sustainability goals. It is all of you who, through your creativity, ingenuity, passion and determination, have done the work to advance the Twentyby30™ program. I am proud to share that, although we are a few years from crossing the finish line, we are on the right path and we are not idle. We are progress in motion.

Thank you,

Tim Donahue

President, CEO & Chairman of the Board

To learn more about Crown Holdings’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit our sustainability webpage.

For full details about Crown Holdings’s 2023 Sustainability Report, visit here.

As heat and drought are becoming more prevalent throughout the country, many are considering alternatives to traditional turfgrass. One promising option is clover, which offers natural resilience and requires less maintenance compared to conventional turfgrasses.

Let’s explore the benefits

One standout feature of clover is its ability to naturally self-fertilize. It works with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert nitrogen in the air into usable fertilizer, reducing the need for additional feeding. This helps maintain a thick, green ground cover that requires minimal watering, even during short-term droughts.

Another benefit to clover is that it establishes quickly, so you can enjoy a lush lawn in a fraction of the time. It also grows low to the ground, reducing the need for frequent mowing. Clover thrives in a variety of conditions, from sunny spots to partial shade, and can be easily integrated with existing turf or used to create entirely new lawns and decorative landscapes. We would also like to call out that clover is a favorite among pollinators, attracting bees and other beneficial insects to your garden.

When to plant

We recommend planting this low-maintenance ground cover in late spring to early summer when air temperatures are between 60°F and 80°F. Water two times daily to keep the soil surface wet for the first two weeks. Once your clover is fully established, mow to a height of 4 to 6 inches and return the clippings to your lawn for natural feeding.

Low effort, high impact

For those seeking a sustainable lawn solution, clover offers a natural, eco-friendly alternative. Whether mixed with traditional grasses or as a standalone, clover’s self-sustaining properties contribute to a vibrant, green lawn with less effort and environmental impact.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.6 billion in sales, the Company is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting, and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com. 

View original content here.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., September 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Today, the Global Heat Reduction Initiative (GHR) formally launches two innovative programs to accelerate the fight against climate change. Both aim to measurably draw down excess heat trapped in the atmosphere caused by powerful short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons, as well as longer-lived emissions like carbon dioxide.

The Global Heat Reduction Registry will issue high-integrity, third-party verified credits, called Heat Reduction Credits (HRCs), to support effective climate mitigation projects, especially those focused on SLCP reductions, enabling buyers to play a greater role in curbing atmospheric heat rapidly.The Global Heat Reduction Climate Footprint program allows organizations to inventory their full climate footprint, to more accurately identify and implement solutions to reduce their Scope 1, 2 and 3 climate impacts.

“Current carbon markets and accounting, based on a 100-year impact model, fail to address the crisis of accelerating heat over the critical next two decades,” said GHR’s Executive Director, Kiff Gallagher. “Our new tools complement this long-term model with near-term mitigation data that, for the first time, enable private and public sector entities to prioritize the most potent atmospheric heat drivers on their path to net zero.”

GHR is an initiative of SCS Global Services, a global leader in sustainability standards and certification, including award-winning climate services. GHR’s approach is rooted in decades of company research, project work, and collaboration with internationally renowned scientists. This effort culminated in 2023 with independent peer-review of SCS’ new climate accounting protocol, a direct application of consensus climate science published by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The peer review was conducted by the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

“Roughly half of global warming is caused by short-lived climate pollutants,” said Duke University’s Dr. Drew Shindell, a well-known US climate scientist, long-time IPCC contributor, and chair of CCAC’s review panel. “Conventional climate accounting utilizes the global warming potential over 100 years (GWP-100), which provides only a partial window into the accelerating pace of climate change and the respective roles of each climate driver. In particular, it significantly understates the near-term climate potency of short-lived climate pollutants. Because these pollutants dissipate over periods of just a few days to a few years, any effort to curb these pollutants now can have significant benefits in the very near future.”

GHR’s new climate accounting protocol, by contrast, accurately assesses drivers of global warming over any period, not just 100 years. In addition, it includes other factors not incorporated into conventional climate accounting, such as changes in Earth’s reflectivity, and the climate side-effects of cleaning up dangerous air pollutants like sulfur dioxide.

Together, these features set the stage for users to:

evaluate mitigation options to determine which yield the greatest and most cost-effective climate benefits;support vital climate mitigation projects that were previously undervalued or overlooked; andmake verified claims about their direct contributions to near-term heat reduction.

“For 40 years, SCS has converted cutting-edge science into business solutions that protect the planet,” said Matthew Rudolf, President and CEO of SCS Global Services. “GHR is the latest example of our market-based innovation for a sustainable climate and economy.”

“SCS Global Services has long been a pioneer in the climate field,” said Linda Brown, SCS Co-founder and Senior Vice President. “Company founder and CEO, the late Dr. Stanley Rhodes, worked on the science and protocols underlying the Global Heat Reduction Initiative for more than a decade. We are proud to honor his legacy by helping organizations take the next step in the fight against climate change.”

Contact: Tom Vandyck, media@heatreduction.com

About the Global Heat Reduction Initiative 
The Global Heat Reduction Initiative (GHR) was launched in 2024 to bring critical new tools to bear in the battle to slow global warming within the next decade and beyond. Our goal is to help achieve decarbonization by 2050 without triggering irreversible climate tipping point by rapidly reducing excess atmospheric heat now. GHR offers the most comprehensive climate accounting model available today, a climate registry, climate footprint, advocacy, and advisory services. GHR is an initiative of SCS Global Services. Learn more at www.heatreduction.com.

About SCS Global Services 
SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, currently celebrating its 40th year of services. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

Going to Climate Week NYC this year or just curious what all the hype is about? Want to know how you can attend remotely? Ask your questions about the event – the largest of its kind – to the organizers themselves at our exclusive Climate Week NYC preview, happening this Wed, Sept 18 at 9am PT // 12pm ET on Zoom. 

Register for free here and click here to share your comments and questions with the Climate Week NYC team ahead of the session. 

You’ll hear directly from Adam Lake and Akachukwu Nwosu on what not to miss at this year’s event, what’s happening on the ground and virtually, and how to navigate 700+ events if it’s your first time attending. 

See you on Wednesday! 

The Impact Communications Institute team

 

Impact Communications Institute 
www.impactcommsinstitute.org

We publish a powerful newsletter that explores the intersection of communications + social impact called The Agenda. Sign up!

SWORDS, Ireland, September 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, was recently recognized for workplace excellence, uplifting culture and its commitment to sustainability by TIME, PEOPLE and Fortune. The company was named to TIME’s World’s Best Companies list for the second consecutive year, made its first appearance on PEOPLE’s Companies That Care list and achieved its highest ranking to date on Fortune’s list of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production, securing 5th position.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by TIME, PEOPLE and Fortune for our commitment to creating a positive workplace, as well as our dedication to sustainability,” said Dave Regnery, chair and CEO of Trane Technologies. “We are proud to foster a culture that not only values innovation and growth but also prioritizes the well-being of our people and the planet. Our continued recognition across various prestigious platforms underscores our unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact on the world.”

TIME’s list of the World’s Best Companies is published in collaboration with market research company Statista and ranks companies according to 3 pillars: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability transparency. PEOPLE’s Companies that Care list highlights the top U.S. companies that have succeeded in business while demonstrating outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees, communities and the environment. Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production list evaluates employee experiences that predict retention, agility, and overall business success.

In addition to these rankings, Trane Technologies was also recently recognized by:

Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators 2024 – Finalist, Manufacturing categoryDisability Equality Index – 2024 Best Places to Work50/50 Women on Boards – Gender-Balanced Board DesignationParadigm for Parity – Holly Paeper and Charlene Vance named 2024 Women on the RiseSHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Awards – Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez received the Climate Sustainability Award

Advancing its bold 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including the Gigaton Challenge, Trane Technologies was the first company in its industry and among the first across all sectors to receive validation from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for its near-term 2030 emissions reduction targets and its long-term 2050 net-zero target. With its Opportunity for All commitment, the company is uplifting our culture and communities through an inclusive approach and a focus on education and career development for everyone.

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About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit tranetechnologies.com.